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MEMOIRS OF THE SHAKESPEARES. 






ORIGINAL MEMOIRS 

AND 

HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS 

OF THE 

FAMILIES OF SHAKESPEARE 

AND HART, 

DEDUCED EEOM AN EAELY PEEIOD, AND CONTINUED 
DOWN TO THIS PEESENT YEAE 1790. 



/BY 

JOHN v J0KDAN, 

OF STRATFORD-UPON-AVON. 

Wii\ grafoings of %ir gbjellhtg pows£S, anb Coats of gtrms. 



NOW FIRST PRINTED, A.D. 1865. 



LONDON 



PRINTED BY THOMAS RICHARDS. 
186f 




PREFACE 



HHHE original manufcript of the following work is pre- 
served in a private collection difficult of accefs. I 
once faw it for a few minutes, expecting that I mould have 
met with the view of New Place mentioned by the author 
as included in it, but no fuch drawing was in the book ; 
neither was there any view of the monumental effigy, alfo 
named by Jordan. The only drawing of any importance 
in the manufcript is a large but very rude one of the birth- 
place in Henley Street. The tranfcript from which the 
prefent edition is taken has the following memorandum at 
the end: — "This manufcript is copied from the original 
prefented by John Jordan to Edmund Malone, Efq. ; at 
whofe death it pafsed, with his other papers, to James 
Bofwell, Efq. ; and on his demife was fold by auction to 
Mr. Merridew, bookfeller at Warwick." The manufcript 



VI PREFACE. 

is included in a lift near the end of Bofwell's fale cata- 
logue, which is dated, I believe, 1826. 

Great caution, as I have faid elfewhere, muft be exer- 
cifed in ufing any of Jordan's papers for Shakefpeare- 
biographical purpofes. The literal truth is, — and it is of 
no ufe concealing the difagreeable word, — he was difhoneft. 
Malone was very kindly difpofed towards him, and affifted 
him on more than one occafion very materially, little 
thinking that his kindnefs was repaid by literary mifre- 
prefentation, and even occafionally by forgery. The late 
Mr. Wheler told me that Jordan had confeffed to him pri- 
vately a forgery of the great poet's fignature ; no doubt 
induced to do fo by Mr. Wheler's detective powers. If 
Jordan had been as truthful as Wheler, whofe word was 
invariably to be implicitly depended upon, his writings 
would now have been of remarkable value. Even, how- 
ever, as it is, they are by no means to be defpifed. Thus, 
in the prefent volume, there are many circumftances con- 
nected with the Hart family not to be met with elfewhere; 
as well as other fcraps of information, the truth of which 
can be tefted by inquiry. Jordan often gives ufeful hints 
for refearches ; and there is very little amongft his papers 
which does not deferve a careful perufal. The manufcript 



PREFACE vil 

now printed was moft likely purchafed from the author by 
Malone ; and is, I fufpecl, the fource whence the latter 
obtained the additional verfes on Sir Thomas Lucy, now 
acknowledged to be forgeries. It certainly was the volume 
from which he derived the long ftory of the crab-tree, as 
may be feen by comparing the account in the following 
pages with that contained in Malone's Life of Shakefpeare, 
in Bofwell's edition, 1821, vol. ii, pp. 500-2. 

J. O. Halliwell. 



JORDAN'S MEMOIRS OF SHAKSPEARE. 



"\\7"HAT the compiler of the following memoirs 
has to fay in this place will be expreffed in a 
very few words, becaufe Shakfpeare's own genius 
has immortalized his name ; and his reputation is 
fufficiently eftablifhed to make his memory for ever 
revered by his numerous admirers ; yet as his fame 
is ftill increafmg, and probably will do fo as long as 
human nature itfelf mall continue and exift, yet thefe 
reafons may be affigned for the following compila- 
tion, — the generality of his readers are extremely 
anxious to be acquainted with every anecdote con- 
cerning him and his family, and though many edi- 
tions of his works have been printed, and many 
more are likely to come forth, patronized and pro- 
tected by men of the highefl rank and abilities, who 
to embellifh and elucidate their works, have given, 
and ftill propofe giving all the account of the author, 
his friends, family, and relations, they have been 
able to obtain, yet the enquiries of many learned 
and judicious gentlemen have hitherto been inef- 
fectual, or at lead fell fhort of their moft fanguine 



2 JORDAN S MEMOIRS 

expectations and wifhes, merely for want of proper 
materials, and which it is impoffible for them to ac- 
quire without being at considerable expenfe, or. 
refiding fome time in the bard's native country, and 
collecting the traditions of the inhabitants, and in- 
fpecting records, deeds, wills, and the parifh regif- 
ters ; and alfo an intimate acquaintance with the 
Hart family, though it muft be confeffed they are a 
very illiterate fet of people, and incapable of giving 
that information which might be reafonably expecled 
from the alliances and confanguinity they bear to 
their immortal relation : indeed, they are fo totally 
ignorant that they cannot give any account of their 
predeceffor beyond their own memory ; their ideas 
are fo contracted and circumfcribed, that the utmoft 
of their knowledge and information extends no 
farther than what ferves their own pecuniary advan- 
tage ; this is what gratifies their willies and inclina- 
tions more than their veneration for the memory of 
their great relative, whofe works it is certain they 
have never read, and if they had, they could not un- 
derftand thofe unbounded flights of fancy that charm, 
delight, and aitonifh the literary world. Yet with 
all thefe inconveniences, fome things which have yet 
efcaped the biographers may poffibly be obtained by 
an intimate acquaintance with them. The compiler 
of the following fheets afferts this from experience, 



OF SHAKESPEARE. 3 

having for fome time made it his principal ftudy and 
amufement to collect every particular anecdote of 
the family whofe ftreams flow from the fame foun- 
tain of that immortal man whofe " mufe of fire" 
affords entertainment to the divine, the philofopher, 
the metaphyfician, the hero, the fenator, and the 
poet. But at this time his fituation in life deprives 
him of thofe means to make fuch enquiry as gentle- 
men of fortune may have recourfe to, he having a 
family of fmall children to provide for, and nothing 
to fupport them but the labour of his own hands ; 
and not employment fufficient to gain a reafonable 
fuftenance ; therefore he is in the greateft diflrefs 
that can be defcribed or imagined. Overwhelmed 
with a torrent of adverfity, fteeped in poverty to the 
very lips, loaded with misfortunes, and finking under 
the weight of defpair, and what hurts the noble 
mind is being forced to bear th' oppreffor's wrong, 
the proud man's contumely, the infolence of office, 
and the fpurns that patient merit of th' unworthy 
takes : thus immerfed with forrow, and befieged with 
trouble, can it be fuppofed that he is enabled to 
make enquiries equal to his wifhes ? Thus, having 
given a fufficient reafon why his refearches extend 
no farther than what is contained in thefe few fheets, 
he hopes the following hints may not be unaccept- 
able to future biographers who may be induced to 
proceed to thofe enquiries. 



4 JORDAN S MEMOIRS 

The title deeds of the houfes in the Henley Street 
where the poet was born would probably difcover 
where the family refided before they came to Strat- 
ford ; thefe have been enquired for of Thomas Hart, 
who declares he never faw them. From this it 
feems likely they were put into the hands of the 
attorney who made the mortgage deeds when the 
houfes were mortgaged to Mary Smith, and never 
returned. This attorney, it is fuppofed, was Mr. 
Bartlett Mafon, as he was the gentleman that tranf- 
acted bufinefs for Mrs. Smith. If that was really 
the cafe, the deeds are very likely to be in the office 
of Mr. Hunt of Feckenham. The temporal will of 
Mr. John Shakefpeare, who was buried anno 1601, 
would probably inform the world what family and 
relations he had, and how he difpofed of his eftate. 
This may, perhaps, be depofited in the ecclefiaftical 
Court of Worcefter. The wills of Dr. John Hall 
and Mrs. Hall, Mr. Thomas Nafh, and Mr. and 
Mrs. Queeny, may afford entertainment to the curi- 
ous, and perhaps difcover what became of the filver 
and gilt bowl ; and Sir John Barnard's will would 
perhaps give information into what family the poet's 
plate was left, as that of Mr. Thomas Combe's would 
his fword. The churches of Wilnicotte, Curdworth, 
etc., might by monumental fubfcriptions, and an exa- 
amination of the regifters, tend to many difcoveries 



OF SHAKESPEARE. 5 

and anecdotes of the family of Shakefpeare and 
Arden that the world might wifh to be acquainted 
with. But thefe enquiries the author of the follow- 
ing memoirs is obliged to leave to future biogra- 
phers to accomplifh, iincerely wifhing their endea- 
vours may meet with the approbation of all who are 
admirers of the works of his inimitable townfman. 

The Herald's Office, if properly examined, might 
probably fhow the pedigree that was produced by 
John Shakefpeare when the exemplification of the 
arms was granted to him. 

Lift of Drawings in this work. 

i, A view of the houfe where the poet was born, p. i 

2. Views of the New Place 

3. Shakfpeare's monument 

4. Three coats of arms . 

5. Two fhields of arms . 



44 
45 
55 



No. 1 is entitled — " A view of the houfe where 
Shakefpeare was born." Mr. John Shakefpeare 
was High Bailiff of Stratford-upon-Avon in the 
reign of Queen Elizabeth. According to the beft 
accounts, he was a confiderable dealer in wool, 
and what confirms the account there is in the 
window marked .... the following arms, viz., 
nebule (?) of 6 or and azure with a lion paffant 



6 JORDAN S MEMOIRS 

gardant in chief of the firft, which Dr. Thomas 
affirms to be the arms of the merchants of the 
ftaple. B is the houfe where the poet is faid to 
have been born, and where Thomas Hart now 
lives, who is a defcendant of the poet's fifter 
Joane. To Edmond Malone, Efq., Queen Anne 
Street Eaft, London, this drawing is humbly in- 
fcribed by his molt obedient fervant, John Jordan 
of Stratford-upon-Avon. 

Of this lift of drawings, Nos. 2 and 3 are not now 
in Jordan's MS. 

No. 1 I have reduced to a quarter. 



OF SHAKESPEARE. 7 

The Hijlory of the Families of Shakefpeare 
and Hart. 

The family of Shakefpeare were of refpectable 
defcent and gentility in the county of Warwick, 
efpecially in the woodland part, which was anciently 
the foreft of Arden, where many of that name are 
ftill extant, and fome of them people of property. 
The firft of whom we find mention in hiftory is 
.... Shakefpeare, who, according to an exemplifica- 
tion of arms taken out of the Heralds' Office in 
1599, is faid to have been rewarded with eftates in 
Warwickfhire, by King Henry VII., for the fervices 
he had rendered that prince in the field ; the parti- 
culars are not mentioned, but perhaps Bofworth, 
where Richard the 3rd was flain. Therefore, for want 
of authentick materials, I fhall fhart a few probable 
conjectures, and fubmit them to the infpection of 
more curious and learned biographers to difcufs. 

The name is allufive to a military profeffion, and 
fignifies to Shake the fpear, and feems a little con- 
fonant with that of Breakefpeare, of which houfe 
was Adrian the IV., who lived in the thirteenth 
century, and was the only Pope who was a native 
of Britain ; but as the family from which that pontiff 
defcended were fettled at Abbots Langley in Hert- 
fordfhire, it does not appear that the Shakefpeares 



8 Jordan's memoirs 

were any ways related to them. Therefore, I mould 
imagine that the above Shakefpeare refided in Arden; 
and that he was born about the year 1460 ; that he 
joined the Earl of Richmond's army at Tamworth in 
1485, being then 25 years of age, and that amongft 
his other children he had a fon born in 1400, who 
probably had alfo a fon born in 15 10, perhaps 
named William, befide feveral other children. He 
was probably of a younger branch of the family 
fettled in trade at Stratford, whofe eldeft fon we are 
certain was John. He muft have been born in or 
about the year 1531, by his being the great grand- 
fon of the firft-mentioned. He was certainly a 
perfon well-defcended, tho' it does not appear he 
had much landed property ; yet his marriage with a 
female of the houfe of Arden is a proof of his genteel 
defcent. That houfe were lineally defcended from 
the Anglo-Saxon Earls of Warwick, and may be 
traced to the renowned Guy, the hero and champion 
of England. The laft earl of this race was Turchill 
de Warwick, in the reigns of King Edward the Con- 
feffor, K. Harold, and William the Conqueror. He 
was a very potent man, but as he did not bear arms 
againft the Norman invader his lands were not 
taken from him, though he was thrufl out of his 
earldom of Warwick, from whence he retired into 
the Foreft of Arden, from which place his defcend- 



OF SHAKESPEARE. 9 

ants affumed their furname and refided for many 
generations, as may be feen in Sir William Dugdale's 
account of Cudworth and Park Hall, where the 
pedigree is given, with their marriages and inter- 
marriages with the families of Conway and Throg- 
morton, fome of whom have been, and are to this 
day, an honour to their country. 

The Ardens did not fo early embrace the Pro- 
teftant religion as fome other families did, for there 
was one of them attainted for high treafon in the 
reign of Queen Elizabeth, and fuffered with Throg- 
morton and Somervile, his kinfman, by a contrivance 
of Robert Earl of Leicefter. This in fome meafure 
confirms the opinion of John Shakefpeare's being a 
Roman Catholic fecretly, if not by open profeffion ; 
the latter he certainly was not, becaufe he had acted 
as chief magiftrate of Stratford during the reign of 
the Queen. As a further proof that he was a papift, 
there was found in the houfe where he refided, in 
Stratford, a fpiritual will and teftament or confeffion 
of faith. By his firft wife (for he had three), as will 
afterwards appear, he had the following iffue : — 

i. Joane, daughter of John Shakefpeare, baptized 
Sept. 15, 1558. Where fhe died I have not feen. 

2. Margaret, daughter of John Shakefpeare, bap- 
tized Dec. 2nd, 1562, and buried April y e 30th, 

1563. 

c 



IO JORDAN S MEMOIRS 

3. William, baptized April y e 25, 1564, of whom 
hereafter. 

4. Gilbert, baptized 061. y e 13, 1566. 

5. Jone, baptized April y e 15, 1569. 

6. Anne, baptized September y e 28, 1 57 1 . 

7. Richard, baptized March y e nth, 1573. 

8. Edmund, baptized May y e 3rd, 1580. 

Thefe feem to be all the children he had by his 
firfh marriage ; when his wife died is not certainly 
known, for fhe is not inferted in the Stratford 
regifter, therefore it feems probable that fhe was 
buried amongft her own relations, which perhaps 
might be found if properly fearched after, and it 
would be well worth while for fome of the admirers 
of the immortal Shakefpeare to inquire out the 
fepulchre of his mother. I would do it myfelf if my 
circumftances were equivalent with my wifhes ; but 
as they are not, I muft content myfelf with what 
materials it has pleafed Providence to furnifh me 
with. It is certain that fhe died between May the 
3d, 1580, and Nov. y e 25, 1584, for on that day 
John Shakefpeare was married to Margery Roberts. 
Of what family fhe is defcended from was unknown ; 
it does not appear that he had any iffue by this mar- 
riage, for there is no children of his mentioned till 
after her burial, which was 061. y e 29th, 1587, fo 
that fhe did not live with him quite three years ; 



OF SHAKESPEARE. I I 

after her death it feems probable that he married 
the third time ; the baptifmal name of this wife was 
Mary, but of what firname is not known, for they 
were not married at Stratford. She furvived her 
husband three years, and was buried Sep. y e 8th, 
1604, by whom fhe had the following iffue, — 

1. Urfula, daughter of John Shakefpeare, baptized 
March nth, 1588. 

2. Humfry, fon of John Shakefpeare, baptized 
May y e 24, 1590. 

3. Phillip, fon of John Shakefpeare, baptized Sept. 
21ft, 1591. 

Biographers have given him ten children, but he 
had certainly eleven, as appears by the above ex- 
tract from the regifter of Stratford, which evidently 
fhews that he had eight by his firft wife and three 
by his third and laft. This is the mofl authentick 
evidence that can at prefent be obtained, or perhaps 
ever will be, as there are neither books nor manu- 
fcripts relating to the family to be found in the 
poffeffion of the Harts nor the Hathaways. Of this 
I am certain, for I have made every enquiry that 
can be, but without meeting with that fuccefs I ex- 
pected and mofl ardently wifhed to obtain. 

Thus having given the baptifms of all his children, 
let us return to the father, who it is faid was a con- 
hderable dealer in wool ; for this we have not only 



I 2 JORDAN S MEMOIRS 

the tradition of Stratford, but alfo the authority of 
Mr. Rowe, who confeffes he owes a particular obli- 
gation to Wm. Betterton, the actor, for the moft con- 
fiderable paffages relating to the life of the immortal 
poet, for the veneration of whofe memory had in- 
duced him to make a journey into Warwickshire on 
purpofe to collect what remains he could of a name 
for which he had fo great a veneration and efteem. 

Betterton was alfo certainly acquainted with Sir 
William Davenant, who muft have remembered 
Shakefpeare well, and knew moft of his affairs, and 
no doubt had heard him talk of his father, fo that 
Rowe's veracity is not to be queftioned : and what 
feems to confirm the opinion of his being a dealer in 
wool is this, — there is in the window of one of the 
houfes which were his, a fhield of arms painted or 
ftained on glafs, which is nebule of six or and azure 
with a lion paffant guardant in chief of the firft. 
There is the fame arms on the tomb of John Clop- 
ton, Efq., who was father to Sir Hugh Clopton, 
knight, Lord Mayor of London anno 1496, y e 12th 
of Henry y e 7th, and Thomas Clopton, Esq., Mafter 
of the Guild in Stratford. This tomb was un- 
doubtedly erected by Sir Hugh, for there is the 
arms of the City of London thereon, as well as thofe 
mentioned above ; which Dr. Thomas, in his edition 
of Sir William Dugdale's Antiquities of Warwick- 



OF SHAKESPEARE. I 3 

Jliire, afferts to be the arms of the Merchants of the 
Staple, of which Sir Hugh was a fellow. From 
thefe circumftances we may imagine that John 
Shakefpeare was a dealer in wool and a fellow of the 
merchants of the ftaple, and not a butcher, as fome 
have erroneoufly afferted him to have been. In the 
latter part of his days his circumftances feem to have 
been reduced, for as he was a member of the Corpo- 
ration, it was ufual at that time for each to pay four- 
pence a week to the poor, but it is recorded in the 
Corporation books that he was excufed from paying 
his fhare through inability, and fome time after had 
pay allowed him from the fame body ; fo that it may 
be reafonably fuppofed that the exemplification of 
the arms was taken out of the Heralds Office by the 
pride of nature, and glory of Britain, his fon William, 
about the time he purchafed the houfe in Stratford, 
which he named the New Place, which was in or 
about the year 1599, two years before the death of 
his father. The inftrument expreffes that it was law- 
ful for the defcendants of the faid John Shakefpeare 
to bear the family arms, either fingle or impaled with 
thofe of Arden; but I have never yet feen thefe coats 
impaled, fo that I fuppofe the poet never ufed any 
more than his own family fhield. Mr. John Shake- 
fpeare fmifhed his earthly pilgrimage and refigned 
his foul into the hands of his Creator, and was buried 



14 JORDAN S MEMOIRS 

Sept. y e 8th, 1601, fo that if he was born in 1531, he 
was aged about 70. It now remains that we fhould 
fpeak of his defcendants, and firft of his own children. 
The eldeft of whom was — 

1. Joane, a daughter, who muft have died young. 

2. Margaret, as before. 

3. William, whofe life will be given after thofe of 

his brothers and fillers. 

4. Gilbert. What became of him I could never 
learn, yet it feems probable he was married and 
had iffue, for there was a Gilbert Shakefpeare 
buried at Stratford Feb. y e 3rd, 161 1, with the 
appellation adolefcens affixed to his name, who 
probably was fon to the above Gilbert, for it could 
not have been himfelf, for he muft have been at 
that time 45 years of age, fo that the term ado- 
lefcens muft be totally inapplicable to him. It, 
therefore, feems probable that he fettled at Row- 
ington or fomewhere in that neighbourhood, and, 
perhaps, was the founder of a family whofe names 
are now numerous in thofe parts ; but yet this 
does not feem likely, for the poet never mentions 
them in his will. 

5. Joane, daughter to John Shakefpeare, married to 
one William Hart of Stratford, a hatter, from 
which marriage there are many defcendants ftill 
living, a genealogy of whom will be given after 



OF SHAKESPEARE. I 5 

thofe of her brothers and lifters. She was living 
and aged 47 years at the death of her brother 
William. How long fhe furvived him I cannot 
tell. 

6. Anne. She was buried April y e 4th, 1579, under 
8 years of age. 

7. Richard, fon of John Shakefpeare, was buried 
February y e 4th, 161 2, aged 39. 

8. Edmund, fon of Mr. John Shakfpeare. What 
became of him I could never learn ; but imagine 
he died before his brother William, as he is not 
mentioned in his will, which, if he had been living 
at that time, we may reafonably fuppofe, he would 
have left him fome legacy. 

Children by Mary, ^rd wife of Mr. John 
Shakefpeare. 

9. Urfula, a daughter. What became of her is not 
known. 

10. Humphry. What became of him I never could 
find. 

11. Phillip. I have feen an account that he was 
living after the reftoration of King Charles the 
2nd, which muft have been upwards of 69 years 
from his birth. He is faid to have been quef- 
tioned about his brother, and that he faid he was 
in London at the time his brother was at the 



16 Jordan's memoirs 

theatre : and that he went to fee the play ; but all 
the account he could give was, his brother was 
brought upon the ftage in the character of an old 
man who appeared to be fick, which was fuppofed 
to have been the part of Adam in As You Like 
It. If this ftory is true, Betterton mull have con- 
verfed with him ; yet I think it wants confirma- 
tion. When he died, or was ever married, I could 
never learn. 

We may fuppofe that Mr. John Shakefpeare had 
not any landed property befide thofe two houfes and 
appurtenances fituate in Henley Street in Stratford, 
where he refided, and where his children were born; 
unlefs it was another houfe in Stratford, a copyhold, 
all which came to his eldefl fon William, as heir at 
law, who by his laft will left his younger! daughter 
Judith £50 on her furrendering her moiety of the 
latter to her elder fifter Sufanna, the wife of Dr. 
John Hall. 

Thus having given all the account of John Shake- 
fpeare it has been poffible for me to obtain, I fhall 
next proceed to give fome memoirs of that inimitable 
dramatic author, William Shakefpeare, and his de- 
fcendants. 

He was born on Sunday the 23rd day of April, 
in the year 1564. At a fuitable age he was put to 
the Free Latin Grammar School, which was origin- 



OF SHAKESPEARE. I 7 

ally founded by one Jollepe, a M after of Arts of 
Stratford, the mafterfhip of which was in the pre- 
fentation of the Fraternity of the Guild of the Holy 
Crofs, which continued till the diffolution of the faid 
guild by King Edward y e Vlth, who granted a 
charter for incorporating the town, and was then 
himself accounted the founder of the fchool, which 
was there in confiderable repute, and has been till 
within thefe laft twenty years, but is now wholly dif- 
continued ; which is much to be lamented, as it was 
there the matchlefs Shakfpeare received the rudi- 
ments of his education, from whence perhaps he took 
the hint of Sir Hugh Evans, the Welfh parfon's ex- 
amination of his pupil William Page in the prefence 
of his mother in the Merry Wives of Wind/or, 
having perhaps in his youth undergone a fcene fimi- 
lar to that he fo humoroufly defcribes. 

How long he continued at fchool is uncertain, for 
it is faid by feveral authors that his father put him 
to his own bufmefs at an early period of life. It 
may be reafonably gueffed he did not continue in 
that fituation long, for it cannot be fuppofed that the 
genius of Shakefpeare and the drudgery of trade 
were agreeable companions, but circumftances often 
oblige men to fubmit to difficulties which they would 
wifh but cannot avoid ; often we may be certain does 
that blind goddefs Fortune with her fickle wheel 

D 



1 8 Jordan's memoirs 

put it out of the power of many to difplay latent 
talents, which, for want of proper encouragement 
and happy occurrences, lie concealed and are never 
called forth. This, in the early period of his life, 
was the cafe of the great, the inimitable, the im- 
mortal Shakfpeare, who fubmitted to that fituation 
his parent defigned for him. Probably what tended 
more than anything elfe to fix the poet in his father's 
bufmefs was his imprudence in liftening fo early to 
the call of love, for he married at the age of feven- 
teen. The object of his choice was not, it is con- 
feffed, undeferving of it, as well from the accom- 
plishments fhe poffeffed as defcending from a fuit- 
able family ; her baptifmal name was Anne. She 
was the daughter of Mr. Hathaway, faid to be a 
wealthy yeoman of Shottery in the parifh of Old 
Stratford; and born in 1556. His early independ- 
ence, as every father of a family in fome meafure 
mull be, was attended with thofe ill confequences 
that ufually happen in fuch cafes : it led him into 
juvenile company, who, like himfelf, rather courted 
than fhunned the pleafures of conviviality ; fome of 
his acquaintance were young gentlemen in the neigh- 
bourhood, who probably put him upon expenfes he 
could not fupport, and it is abfolutely certain that it 
occafioned his falling into exceffes that, though partak- 
ing more of frolic than any wifh to indulge themfelves 



OF SHAKESPEARE. 1 9 

at the expenfe of the laws, was by no means excuf- 
able. Amongft thefe wild Tallies of youth was their 
chafing the deer in the parks of the greater gentry 
in the vicinity of Stratford. 

Of which fport we may fuppofe, by his writings, 
our poet was very fond, and if we may be allowed 
to judge by that admirable comedy of As You Like 
It, he was alfo fkilful and expert. What a pleafmg 
defcription does he there feelingly give of the death 
of the deer, fhedding his tears in the heedlefs brook. 
Their fondnefs for this diverfion called them more 
than once to gratify their inclinations in the park of 
Sir Thomas Lucy, a refpectable and worthy knight, 
who refided at a village called Charlcote, about four 
miles north-earl from Stratford, and where there is 
now that very elegant manfion-houfe built in the firft 
year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, furrounded by 
a fpacious park, through which the little river Hille 
pours its tributary urn into the bofom of the filver 
Avon's lucid firearm The feat is now poffeffed by 
the Rev. John Lucy Hammond, a defcendant from 
the hon. knight above mentioned, who had at that 
time alfo another park at a place called Fullbroke, 
two miles difhant from the other; and there tradition 
reports it was that Shakfpeare and his companions 
made a praclife of following their favourite diverfion; 
which they did fo often, that the knight's refentment 



20 JORDAN S MEMOIRS 

was raifed, and he commenced a profecution againfl 
them, but defifted upon their making an abjeci fub- 
miffion; but which fo hurt the high fpirit of our poet 
that he could not reprefs his indignation. A fatirical 
fong went abroad, which inflamed Sir Thomas to the 
utmoft pitch, and he renewed the profecution with 
redoubled vigour. His power was too great for 
poor Shakfpeare to contend with, and he now faw, 
perhaps with horror, that his youthful levity obliged 
him to quit his father, his fond wife, his prattling 
babes, and his native place. However melancholy 
his mind then was, it led him from the inconfiderate 
circle that inclofed him, to blaze forth with a luftre 
that will never be extinguifhed. Before we follow 
him an exile from the banks of the Avon, it will not 
be improper to relate the only part of the fatire 
againfl: Sir Thomas that is ftill extant. 

A parliament member, a juftice of peace, 
At home a poor fcare-crowe, in London an affe ; 
If Lucy is lowfie as fome volke mifcalls it, 
Sing lowfie Lucy whatever befall it. 

He thinks himfelf great, 

Yet an affe in his ftate 
We allowe by his ears but with affes to mate ; 

If Lucy is lowfie as fome volke mifcall it, 
Sing lowfie Lucy whatever mifcall it. 

He's a haughty, proud, infolent knight of the fhire, 
Whom nobody loves, yet there's many him fear ; 



OF SHAKESPEARE. 2 1 

But Lucy is lowfie how fome volke mifcall it, 
Sing lowfie Lucy whatever befall it. 

To the feffions he went, 

And did forely complain 

His parke had been robb'd, 

And his deer they were flain. 
So Lucy is lowfie as fome volke mifcall it, 
Sing lowfie Lucy whatever befall it. 

He faid 'twas a riot, his men had been beat, 
His venifon was ftole and clandeftinely eat ;* 
But Lucy is lowfie how fome volke mifcall it ; 
Sing lowfie Lucy whatever befall it. 

So haughty was he when the fault was confefs'd, 
He faid twas a crime that could not be redrefs'd. 
So Lucy is lowfie how fome volke mifcall it, 
Sing lowfie Lucy whatever befall it. 

Tho' Lucys a dozen he paints in his coat, 
His name it mould lowfie for Lucy be wrote ; 

* The punifhment for deer ftealing by 5th of Elizabeth, 
chap. . ., anno Dom. 1562, fays the offender fhall yield and 
pay to the party grieved treble damages and fuffer 3 months 
imprifonment, and after the faid three months are expired 
fhall find fureties for his good abearing for the fpace of 
feven years or lie in prifon. By feet. 7 of this act, the juf- 
tices in feffions have power to difcharge the recognizance 
on the offender's fubmiffion and making fatisfaciion to the 
party grieved. It muft be fuppofed that Shakefpeare was 
profecuted according to the letter of this act. 



2 2 JORDAN S MEMOIRS 

For Lucy is lowfie how fome volke mifcall it, 
Sing lowfie Lucy whatever befall it. 

If a juvenile frolic he cannot forgive, 
We'll fing lowfie Lucy as long as we live, 
And Lucy the lowfie a libel may call it, 
We'll fmg lowfie Lucy whatever befall it. 

Whether this fong is genuine or not I cannot pre- 
tend to determine. It was given me by a perfon 
who found it in a private drawer in an old cheft that 
was fold among the effects of Samuel Tyler, Efq., de- 
ceafed, who was many years owner, and an inhabit- 
ant of the houfe and eftate which had been the pro- 
perty of Mr. Thomas Queeny, who married Judith, 
youngeft daughter of the poet. Although the above 
fong has no great merit, neither in the versification 
nor the compofition, yet the poignancy of the fatire 
mufl have been extremely aggravating to a gentle- 
man who had certainly been wronged, and who in 
every refpect was endowed with fuch qualities that 
mufl: have made him refpecled by the world in 
general, and his own neighbourhood in particular. 

Amongft the many juvenile levities of Shakfpeare, 
I cannot omit delineating fome other traits of his 
character. Tradition fays that he loved hearty 
draughts of Englifh beer or ale, and that there were 
then two companies of people who ufually met at a 



OF SHAKESPEARE. 23 

village called Bidford, about feven miles below Strat- 
ford upon the banks of the Avon, who diflinguifhed 
themfelves by the appellation of the Topers and 
Sippers, the former of whom were accounted the 
molt eminent in the fcience of drinking the largeft 
quantity of liquor without being intoxicated; yet the 
latter were alfo very powerful, and looked on them- 
felves fuperior to moll other companies of drinkers 
in this country. 

Thefe fons of Bacchus challenged all the men in 
England to drink with them, to try the ftrength of 
their heads. The Stratford bard and his companions 
accepted it, and repaired to Bidford on a Whitfun 
Monday to make a trial with the Topers, but to 
their difappointment, they difcovered that they were 
gone to Evefham fair upon a like excurfion ; fo the 
Stratfordians, with Shakefpeare, were obliged to 
take up with the Sippers, who they fcoffed at as un- 
worthy the conteft, but upon trial they found them- 
felves very inferior to their opponents, and were at 
laft obliged to own their fuperiority ; for the poet and 
his companions got fo intoxicated that they were 
obliged to decline any further trial, and leaving Bid- 
ford, they proceeded homeward ; but poor William, 
when he came about half a mile from the village, un- 
able to go on, laid himfelf down upon the verdant 
turf beneath the umbrageous boughs of a wide- 



24 JORDAN S MEMOIRS 

fpreading crab-tree, where he took his night's re- 
pofe. The lark's early mattins awaked him, and he 
was invited to return to Bidford by fome of his con- 
vivial companions to renew the conteft ; but he re- 
fufed : fays he, I have drunk with 

Piping Pebworth, Dancing Marfton, 
Haunted Hillborough, and Hungry Grafton, 
With Dodging Exhall, Papift Wixford, 
Beggarly Broome, and Drunken Bidford. 

Thefe lines feem to intimate that the opponents con- 
fifted of a motley group felecied from the above 
villages : — Pebworth is ftill celebrated for the ikill 
of the inhabitants in mufic and rural feftivity ; and 
Long Marfton, or Marfton Sicca, as it is commonly 
wrote, the inhabitants of which are noted for their 
activity in country dances. And Hilborough is a 
lonely hamlet, faid by the tradition of the vicinage 
to have been haunted by fpirits and fairies. Hungry 
Grafton, I fuppofe, received that appellation from 
the barrenness of its foil ; but however that may be, 
the produce of its excellent (lone quarries make 
fufficient amends for the fterility of the land. Dodg- 
ing Exhall, — I muft confefs I am at a lofs how to 
account for the appellation of dodging, but Papift 
Wixford is a village belonging to the Throckmorton 
family, and the tenants are moft of them of the 



OF SHAKESPEARE. 25 

Roman Catholic religion. Beggarly Broome muft 
have been fo called from the badnefs of the foil ; 
and Drunken Bidford ftill deferves the name, for 
though it is but a fmall village, there are 5 public 
houfes in it, and the people love ale as well as they 
did in the days of Shakfpeare : of this I am certain 
from my own obfervations, having refided amongfh 
them above half a year. The tree under which the 
poet flept is now ftanding, and is called Shakfpeare's 
Crab tree,* and is often vifited by the admirers of 
his unbounded genius. To return to the fugitive 
from knightly malice ; however feeming unfortunate 
the youthful levity and frolicfomenefs of Shake- 
fpeare had rendered both himfelf, his wife and 
children, for at that time he had three, yet it was the 
means, as has been already mentioned, of calling 
forth all thofe vaft powers which were almoft hid, or 
but faintly traced in the dealer in wool ; and of pub- 
lishing the brilliancy of his genius then unnoticed 
but by wild and diforderly young companions. The 
lot was now caft, and as he found it impoffible to 
remain in his native place or in its vicinity, he bid 
adieu to both, and boldly ventured to where his vafl 
mind could only meet its reward, London. Here, 

* I got a branch from this tree, on which I have carved 
a head, and converted it into a walking ftick, which is ef- 
teemed as a curiofity. 

E 



26 Jordan's memoirs 

however, accident as much as either neceffity or 
choice, directed him to the ftage, for Thomas 
Green,* a native of Stratford, and faid to have 
been his coufm, having been fome years in the 
theatrical line, was applied to by our immortal 
bard, who recommended him, there can be no 
doubt, to the fame mode of life, or at leaft gave his 
patronage when he undertook it. The ftage was at 
that time in its infancy, and juft emerging from 
ignorance and barbarifm ; what reception or employ 
he met with there at firft, cannot be afcertained ; 
fome relate that he had the care of gentlemen's 
horfes, for carriages at that time were very little 
ufed. His bufinefs, therefore, fay they, was to take 
the horfes to the inn and order them to be fed till 
the play was over, and then fee that they were re- 
turned to the right owners, and that he had feveral 
boys under him conftantly in employ, from which 
they were called Shakefpeare's Boys. If this is a 
true ftatement of the affairs, it could not be long 
that a perfon fo neceffary for the ftage mould ac~t in 
fo mean a capacity. The time of his acting and 
writing his iirft play is equally unknown, nor can it 

* If this account is true, Shakefpeare muft have went 
upon the ftage before he was 25 years old, for Thomas 
Greene alias Shakefpeare, was buried, according to the 
Stratford regifter, March the 6th, 1589-90. 



OF SHAKESPEARE. 27 

be difcovered what play he firft wrote. It has been 
thought Romeo and Juliet, as there is an edition of 
it extant printed in 1597, and the year following 
came out his plays of King Richard II and III, 
at which time he was 33 years of age ; but an anec- 
dote relating to the former of thefe plays is againft 
this idea ; for when a gentleman of learning was fo 
charmed with the fprightly wit of the character of 
Mercutio that he told the author he fhould have 
been happy to have feen him furvive to the end of 
the play, Shakefpeare replied, he was obliged to kill 
him in the third act, for otherwife he would have 
ruined him, intimating how well he was acquainted 
with the rules of the drama, which probably he was 
not when he wrote his firft play. It is more pro- 
bable that he wrote the firft and fecond part of his 
play of King Henry the Fourth before the printing 
of Romeo and Jtiliet, as Queen Elizabeth was fo 
delighted with the character of Sir John Oldcaftle 
that fhe commanded him to continue it for one play 
more, and mow the fat knight in love, reminding 
him, however, that as fome of the family was ftill 
living, it would be better to change the name. In 
compliance to the royal mandate, he wrote the 
Merry Wives of Wind/or, where, befides the other 
foibles of Sir John, whofe name he now altered to 
Falftaff, he makes him a deer ftealer ; pointing his 



28 Jordan's memoirs 

fatire againfi: his Warwickfhire profecutor by making 
Sir Hugh Evans, the Welch parfon, defcant fo very 
humoroufly upon the armorial bearings of the Lucy 
family. This he now durft do, becaufe patronized 
and protected by royalty ; and this feems to be a 
convincing proof that he wrote the play prior to the 
year 1593, for in that year Sir Thomas Lucy died. 
Therefore it would have been unpardonable in the 
poet to have fatirized the knight after his deceafe. 
That he had ingratiated himfelf into the favour of 
the queen is beyond a doubt, by the elegant compli- 
ment he pays her majefty in his Midfummer Night's 
Dream. 

It is far from improbable that when he drew the 
character of King Henry the Vth, he had in view 
fome of his own actions, the parallel holding good if 
paffmg from the greateft folly and extravagance to 
the height of human glory by different ways did 
they each obtain a never-dying fame ; the fword 
won the all conqueror of fair France his laurels, the 
pen gave the bays to Britannia's choiceft bard ; the' 
following lines are alike applicable to each, when 
they mould difmifs the riotous companions of their 
youth, and become themfelves virtuous and re- 
fpeclable. 

I know you all, and for a while will uphold 
The unyok'd humour of your idlenefs, etc. 



OF SHAKESPEARE. 2 9 

It muft be confeffed that a greater change in manners 
or in fortunes could fcarce be than the libertine, 
fportive young Shakfpeare, the leader of a loofe 
rabble in a country town, oppreffed probably with 
debt, and encumbered prematurely with a family ; 
to the man of true genuine worth, whofe every action 
was an honour to humanity, whofe unbounded 
abilities were applied in the caufe of virtue and 
truth ; he who was a leader only to fome inconfider- 
able young rakes, now affording entertainment to 
thofe of the higher rank, and the mofh exalted and 
refined underltandings ; inftead of perfecution from 
an inconfiderable knight, he now found protection 
from Elizabeth upon the throne, a princefs not more 
admired for knowledge of government than her 
judgment, and extenfive learning ; it argues a great 
mind that could exchange the ruftic behaviour of a 
village fvvain to that of the gentleman ; and yet fuch is 
the extent of the word can we aver Shakefpeare 
became, as his company was eagerly fought after by 
perfons of the higher! rank, his fortune kept pace 
with his merit, and his prudence added (lability to 
it. With what joy muft his fond parent fee fo vaft 
a change ; what a revolution to a wife's fituation, in 
feeing him, whom malice had driven an exile from 
his native town, received with refpect by the great 
and good ; yet did all this foon happen : amongft the 



30 JORDAN S MEMOIRS 

lift of great names who were the poet's friends and 
his cotemporary wits, Ben Jonfon, Chapman the 
tranflator of Homer, Rowley, Beaumont and Fletcher, 
the Earl of Southampton, the unfortunate friend of 
the more unhappy Earl of Effex, was extremely 
attached to Shakfpeare. It was to this nobleman he 
dedicated his poem of Venus and Adonis, and Tar- 
quin and Lucrece, nor was he lefs obliged to the peer 
for his patronage, than for the care he took of his for- 
tune, for Sir William Davenant relates that at one 
time he prefented him with a thoufand pounds to en- 
able him to make a purchafe he fancied. It may be 
gueffed that it was the houfe he bought in Black- 
friers in London. 

As his property enabled him to keep up the 
figure of a man of fafhion, he feemed defirous of 
mowing to the world that he was defcended from 
anceftors that he ought not to be afhamed of, and 
that he was entitled to armorial bearings ; a circum- 
ftance at that time of importance. He, therefore, 
we may fuppofe, prevailed upon his father in 1599 
to take out an exemplification of his arms from the 
Heralds' Office, the whole of which is given in the 
appendix. It was at this time he piirchafed the 
houfe in his native place, together with four yard 
land and a half lying in the common fields of Strat- 
ford, Welcombe, and Bifhopton ; to which he re- 



OF SHAKESPEARE. 3 I 

tired after he had quitted the ftage, and perhaps 
fome time before; becaufe King James I., in 1603, 
granted a patent of the theatre of the Globe to 
Lawrence Fletcher, William Shakfpeare, Richard 
Burbage, Auguftine Phillips, John Hemings, Henry 
Condell, William Sly, Robert Armin, Richard Cow- 
ley, etc. 

He for feveral years conducted the theatre with 
univerfal fatisfaclion, during which time he continued 
to write new plays ; but having at length acquired a 
fufflcient fortune to enable him to fpend the re- 
mainder of his life in eafe and retirement, he quitted 
the public bufinefs, and fettled at this houfe in his 
native town of Stratford, and called his refidence the 
New Place. Having thoroughly repaired it fit for 
his own reception, during his abode here, the fweet- 
nefs of his manners, with the eafe and vivacity of 
his converfation, recommended him to the company 
of the moft diftinguifhed gentlemen in the neigh- 
bourhood, amongft whom was Mr. John Combe, of 
an ancient and refpeclable family. He refided at 
the college near the church, which he had previoufly 
purchafed of Queen Elizabeth ; the method by which 
he greatly augmented his original fortune, was by 
placing his money out at intereft and, perhaps, often 
at a very high extravagant rate. Mr. Combe and 
the bard of Stratford were intimately acquainted. 



3 2 JORDAN S MEMOIRS 

The former, one day, in a tavern, faid to be the fign 
of the Bear, in the Bridge Street in Stratford, faid 
to the other : " I fuppofe you will write my epitaph 
when I am dead ; you may as well do it now, that I 
may know what you will fay of me when I am 
gone." Immediately he replied, It fhall be this : — 

Ten in the hundred lies here ingraved,* 

Tis a hundred to ten his foul is not faved ; 

If any man afks, who lies in this .tomb, 

Oh ! oh ! quoth the devil, 'tis my John a Combe. 

The company inilantly burft into a loud laugh, per- 
haps from the juftnefs of the idea, and the hatred 
all men have to the character of a mifer and ufurer ; 
the violence of the mirth fomewhat fubfiding, they 
defired to hear what he had to fay of Mr. Thomas 
Combe, brother of the former gentleman, when he 
inftantly faid : 

But thin in beard, tho' thick in purfe, 
He 's gone to hell with many a curfe ; 
The devil and he fuck'd both one nurfe, 
For never man was loved worfe ! 

This brother was remarkable for the thinnefs of his 

* It was ufual about this time to engrave the effigies of 
the defunct in brafs, and place them upon their grave or 
tombftone. 



OF SHAKESPEARE. 33 

beard, and no doubt alfo for his covetous difpofition ; 
therefore the poignancy of the farcafm afforded no 
fmall diverfion amongft the convivial meeting ; but 
it is faid the feverity of this fatire made fo deep an 
impreffion upon the two brothers that they never 
forgave the author of their epitaphs. Whether this 
is true is not now to be known, though it is by no 
means improbable ; however, it is certain that he 
himfelf entertained a regard for the fon of Mr. 
Thomas Combe, whofe name was alfo Thomas. 
This affair is fuppofed to have happened about the 
year 1610, for Mr. Thomas Combe the elder died in 
161 1, and Mr. John Combe died in 1614, two years 
before the bard, who bequeathed to Mr. Thomas 
Combe his fword,* as appears by his will, dated in 
March, 1616. It is fmgular that the day of his 
death was the anniverfary one of his nativity, and 
upon which he completed his fifty-third year. His 

* Should the fword of Shakefpeare be difcovered which 
he left to Mr. T. Combe, it would deferve at leaft as much 
attention as the toys made of the mulberry tree he planted, 
or the goblet which he had ufed to take his draught of ale 
every Saturday in the afternoon at a tavern in the vicinity 
of Stratford, and the bench whereon he ufed to fit in the 
garden. Thefe were highly prized by their owner, the late 
James Weft, of Alcrot, Efq., F.R.A.S. Or even the old- 
fafhioned chair that is fhown to ftrangers in the houfe 
where he was born. 

F 



34 JORDAN S MEMOIRS 

remains were depofited on the north fide the chancel 
of Stratford Church, under the fecond ftep that leads 
to the altar, where a neat monument was erefted to 
his memory at the expenfe of his executors ; but 
that falling to decay, it was repaired and beautified 
in the year 1747, from the profits of a benefit given 
by a company of comedians then in this town, Mr. 
Ward, the father of Mrs. Kemble, and grandfather to 
the prefent accomplifhed actor Mr. John Kemble, 
and the juftly celebrated Mrs. Siddons, was the ma- 
nager ; and ftill further to promote an encourage- 
ment to the defign, the following lines were written 
by a very ingenious gentleman, eminent for his abi- 
lities in literature, and which was delivered in a moft 
eloquent manner by Mr. Ward, who always ex- 
preffed a great veneration for the memory of Shake- 
fpeare, which moft confpicuoufly appeared during 
the recital of thefe lines on the ftage, which very 
much contributed to the evening's entertainment, 
and was received with that univerfal applaufe his 
merit moft juftly deferved. 

To roufe the languid breaft by ftrokes of art, 
When liftlefs Indolence had numbed the heart, 
In Virtue's caufe her drooping fons t'engage, 
And with juft fatire lafh a vicious age, 
For this firft Attic theatres were rear'd, 
And guilt's great foe in Sophocles appear'd ; 



OF SHAKESPEARE. 35 

For this the Roman bards their fcenes difplay'd, 

And vice in its own odious garb array 'd ; 

Taught men afflicted Innocence to prize, 

And wrefted tears from even tyrants' eyes ; 

But to great Nature to hold up the glafs, 

To mow from her, herfelf, what is and was ; 

To reafon deeply on the Fates' decree, 

Whether 'tis beft " To be or not to be," 

This, wondrous Shakefpeare, was referved for thee. 

Thou, in thy fkill extenfive, haft reveal'd 

From what the wifeft mortals feem concealed : 

The human breaft thro' every wile to trace, 

And pluck the vizard from the treacherous face ; 

Make the vile wretch difclaim his dark defigns, 

And own conviction from thy nervous lines ; 

Reform the temper, furly, rough and rude, 

And force the half unwilling to be good. 

In mortal breafts new vigour to excite, 

And urge the lingering warrior ftill to fight ; 

Or if a ftate pacific be his view, ] 

Inform'd by thee, juft paths he dares purfue, r 

And ferves his Maker and his neighbour too. ' 

Afk by what magic are thefe wonders wrought, 

Know 'tis by matchlefs words from matchlefs thought 

A ray celeftial kindled in the foul, 

While fentiments unerring filled the whole : 

Hence his expreffion with juft ardour glow'd, 

While Nature all her ftores on him beftow'd ! 

Hail, happy Stratford ! envy'd be thy name, 

What city boafts than thee a greater fame ? 

Here his firft infant lays great Shakefpeare fung, 



36 Jordan's memoirs 

Here his lafh accents faulter'd on his tongue ; 
His honours yet with future times fhall grow, 
Like Avon's ftreams, enlarging as they flow.' 
Be thefe thy trophies, bard ; thefe might alone 
Demand thy features on the mimic ftone, 
But numberlefs perfections yet untold, \ 

In every breaft thy praifes have enrolled, I 
A richer fhrine than if of molten gold ! ) 

Some have expreffed difapprobation to the epi- 
taph that Shakefpeare compofed himfelf, and or- 
dered to be put upon his graveflone, as wondering 
the bard fhould imprecate a curfe upon thofe who 
mould difturb his afhes. The reafon why Shak- 
fpeare was fo pointed in his diflike to have his bones 
thrown out of their depofitum, was the praclife that 
had prevailed at this place before his time of taking 
up the bones of the dead, and putting them into the 
charnel houfe adjoining to where he lies buried, and 
where vaft numbers ftill continue. His delicacy of 
fentiment no doubt made him look upon fuch a prac- 
tife with horror, as barbarous and highly indecent, 
as may be gueffed by what he makes Hamlet fay to 
Horatio on feeing the gravedigger throw up a fkull. 
Certainly we are entitled to wifh a bleffing upon fuch 
who preferve our remains : however unchriftianable 
it may be to call down curfes upon thofe that violate 
them. It is, we may fuppofe, a pofitive proof of the 



i 



OF SHAKESPEARE. 37 

illuftrious dead's expectation of the refurrection of 
thofe afhes he was fo anxious to have preferved. 

Shakefpeare as a poet beggars all defcription. 
Suffice it that he feems to have known Nature and 
the paffions of men better then any other. He is 
fuppofed in his religion by fome to have been a 
Roman Catholick, and this paffage is quoted as a 
proof of it, that the Ghoft tells Hamlet that " he was 
cut off in the bloffom of his age, and fent to his ac- 
count with all his imperfeclons on his head ; un- 
houfeled, unanointed, unanealed." But he fpeaks 
only of a prince that he had defcribed to be of that 
faith, and whofe opinion was not changed by death ; 
for can it be believed that two fovereigns, efpecially 
Elizabeth, mould notice a man of a religion that was 
profcribed, and whofe advocates were held in a kind 
of abhorrence from the volumes they had ufed ; the 
maffacre of St. Bartholomew acted at Paris would 
not fo foon have been forgotten ; reafon too is 
againft the idea ; his enlarged mind could not brook 
the narrow limits of that fyftem of bigotry and un- 
charitablenefs in this enlightened age ; it would be 
immaterial to what mode of faith he fubfcribed. The 
good of all opinions now love the good : to be a 
man is to be regarded as fuch by every one who does 
not adopt the manners of worfe than brutes. Un- 
happily that was not then taught or but imperfectly, 



38 Jordan's memoirs 

if we may judge by the practife of thofe who lived in 
the fixteenth and feventeenth centuries : there can, 
however, be little doubt but that his father was at 
leaft a concealed Romanift, as has been before ex- 
preffed. 

It has much difturbed the world whether Shak- 
fpeare was learned or not ; that he was inftructed in 
the Latin language, when a boy, cannot well be 
doubted, and his genius we may fuppofe might em- 
power him to make a proficiency in that language ; 
but considering how foon he mufl have been taken 
from fchool, as he was employed in his father's bufi- 
nefs, either as an affiftant or a principal until, he left 
Stratford, which might be as foon as a perfon could 
write himfelf man, and that he married when only 
feventeen ; we are certain too that he fpent his time 
in a manner very different from one who wifhes to 
improve his underftanding or his parts ; the follies of 
youth were in him confpicuous ; and after he left his 
native home, he muff be taken up for a confiderable 
time in bufmefs which required too much attention 
than to ftudy languages. 

No doubt but fuch a genius as Shakfpeare mufl 
have written very many fmall pieces of poetry ; yet 
few of thefe have reached to our time. There is an 
improbable tale fet forth by Mr. Theobald in his 
preface to his edition, that two chefts full of papers 



( 



i 



OF SHAKESPEARE. 39 

were thrown about without the leafl regard to their 
merit ; that they came at laft into the hands of an 
ignorant baker at Warwick, who was one of his de- 
fcendants, and that they were deftroyed in the dread- 
ful conflagration which happened in Warwick in 
1694. He fays that he had the ftory from Sir Hugh 
Clopton, who faid it was told him by Sir William 
Bifhop of Bridgetown ; if it was fo, from what fol- 
lows it is a plain proof that Sir William knew no- 
thing about the matter. 

As Heminge and Condell publifhed his works in 
1623, the very year that his wife died, and feven 
years after his deceafe, it feems probable that they 
collected all the manufcripts the family were pof- 
feffed of; but as they were players, it may be fup- 
pofed they did not take any notice of his works ex- 
cept dramatic, and which perhaps to them was only 
ufeful, and therefore the others were careleffly loft. 
It mufb be confeffed that Shakefpeare himfelf never 
took any care to preferve his fame to pofterity, nor 
does it feem that any of his plays were printed under 
his own infpeclion, and therefore perhaps he had 
very few by him at the time of his deceafe, for it is 
well known his daughter Hall was extremely well 
informed and beloved by her father, whom fhe fur- 
vived thirty-three years ; therefore it cannot be fup- 
pofed that fhe would have let her immortal father's 



4-0 JORDAN S MEMOIRS 

works have been thrown about in fuch a carelefs 
manner as has been reprefented. However, it can- 
not but be remarkable that fo little attention mould 
have been paid to his memory by his family as not 
to give his plays to the public in an accurate manner, 
together with whatever elfe they might have found 
of his, for thofe that appear to have been printed in 
his lifetime were done in the mofh carelefs manner, 
without any interference of the author, or perhaps 
even his knowledge, as the edition in 1623 did with- 
out the infpection of his children. Nor can we 
wonder lefs at the very few private anecdotes which 
relate to this admired man that have reached us, 
many moft important circumftances as muft have 
arifen in fuch a life as his well worth recording; and 
ftill more brilliant expreffions ; but he lived in an age 
when thefe were only enjoyed by thofe who knew 
him. Had he been born in the eighteenth century, 
whole volumes had been written of his actions and 
fayings, and they would have been ineftimable. 
Pofterity has endeavoured to fupply the deficiency 
of his relations and cotemporaries in publifhing and 
illuftrating his works, though it is confeffed with little 
fuccefs. Some have been more anxious to obtain 
emolument for themfelves than fame for their author, 
and others have attempted what they were not able 
to perform. Nicholas Rowe, Efq., Mr. Theobald, 



OF SHAKESPEARE. 4 I 

Sir Thomas Hanmer, Dr. Warburton, Mr. Stevens, 
and Dr. Samuel Johnfon have publifhed his plays 
with notes and comments, and there are feveral 
other editions of his works. The firft characters 
in Britain are now patronizing the moil fumptuous 
impreffion of his plays that can be imagined, and 
which will exceed everything that has preceded it in 
this or any other kingdom, a convincing proof that 
the author's fame is ftill increafmg, and fo long as 
human nature continues to have the fame paffions, 
it may be expected ever will. 

Mr. Shakefpeare made his will March the 15th, 
1 61 5-6. In the beginning it breathes religious fenti- 
ments in praifmg God for health and memory, com- 
mending his foul to God his Creator with affured 
truft in his mercy through the only merits of Jefus 
Chrift his Saviour, to be made a partaker of ever- 
lafting life. This is mentioned at once to fhew the 
piety of his mind, and is entirely fufficient to prove 
that he was a religious perfon, as well as a man of 
wit and genius. His body he bequeathed to the 
earth, but not fpecifying any particular place or 
manner of fepulture ; his property he gave thus : to 
his daughter Judith 150/., a 100/. as part of her 
marriage portion in one year after his deceafe, with 
the intereft of two millings in the pound until it 
mould be paid, and the remaining 50/. he directed 

G 



42 JORDAN S MEMOIRS 

to be fecured as his overfeers fhould appoint, condi- 
tionally that fhe furrendered up her moiety of a copy- 
hold houfe fituate in Stratford, and held of the 
manor of Rowington, to his daughter Sufannah 
Hall; alfo to his daughter Judith another 150/. in 
cafe flie or any child of hers furvived him, but if not, 
he willed that 100/., part of this laft fum, mould go to 
his niece Elizabeth Hall, and the remaining 50/. be 
put out to intereft for the bed benefit of his fitter 
Joane Hart, and at her death the principal to 
be divided equally amongft her children; but in cafe 
his daughter Judith fhould be living three years 
after his death, or have any child, then the intereft 
of the whole of the laft 1 50/. to go to her during 
her marriage ftate, and upon her death to her 
children : but if not, to whom fhe fhall appoint, un- 
lefs the husband fhe may have at the three years 
end fhall affure unto her and her iffue lands anfwer- 
able to the fortune he bequeaths her by his will ; in 
fuch cafe the whole 150/. fhall be paid to the huf- 
band. To his fifter Joane he bequeathed 20/. and 
all his wearing apparel, which was to be paid and 
delivered to her within one year after his death, and 
alfo the houfe fhe then inhabited during her life at 
the annual rent of twelve pence ; to William Hart, 
Thomas Hart and Michael Hart, her three fons, 5/. 
each. To his niece Elizabeth Hall all his plate, ex- 



OF SHAKESPEARE. 43 

cept his broad filver and gilt bowl. To the poor of 
Stratford 10/. To Mr. Thomas Combe his fword. 
To Thomas Ruffell, Efq. 5/. ; to Francis Collins 
of Warwick, gent. 13/. 6s. Sd. ; to Hamlet Sadler 
1 1. 6s. Sd., to buy him a ring; to William Reynolds, 
gent. il. 6s., to buy him a ring. To his godfon 
William Walker twenty millings in gold. To An- 
thony Nafh, gent., to Mr. John Nam, to his fellows, 
John Hemmings, Richard Burbage, and Henry 
Condell, 1/. 6s. Sd. each, to purchafe rings. To his 
daughter Sufannah Hall, the better to enable her to 
perform his will, his capital houfe called the New 
Place, wherein he dwelt, and two other houfes 
fituate in the Henley Street in Stratford, with what- 
ever other premifes he had, in Stratford-upon-Avon, 
Old Stratford, Welcombe, and Bifhopton, or any of 
them, all in the county of Warwick, and alfo the 
houfe he had in the Blackfriars, London, near the 
Wardrope, then occupied by John Robinfon ; with 
whatever property real he might die poffeffed of, for 
her life; remainder to her iffue male, upon whom it was 
in a molt particular manner limited, remainder over 
to his niece Elizabeth Hall and her male heirs, and 
in default remainder final to his right heirs for ever. 
To his wife his fecond belt bed with its furniture. 
To his daughter Judith his broad filver and gilt 
bowl. All the reft of his goods, chattels, leafes, 



44 JORDAN S MEMOIRS 

plate, jewels and houfehold fluff, after his debts, 
legacies, and funeral expenfes were paid, he gave to 
his fon-in-law John Hall, gentleman, and Sufannah 
his wife, whom he appointed his executors, and en- 
treated Thomas Ruffell, Efq., and Francis Collins, 
gent., to be overfeers thereof: which will was wit- 
neffed by Francis Collins, Julius Shaw, John Robin- 
fon, Hamlet Sadler, and Robert Whatcote. This 
will was proved in the Prerogative Court June 22nd, 
161 6, and adminiftration granted to Mr. and Mrs. 
Hall 

There is a pleafure in feeing the contents of this 
will, as it not only manifefts the poet's religious fen- 
timents towards God, but his benevolence towards 
the poor and his affection to his fitter and her 
children ; nor do we fee him in a lefs amiable light 
in his tendernefs to his friends, feveral of whom have 
memorial expreffions of his regard. It is obvious 
that his daughter Sufan was his favourite child, and 
that he regarded his grand-daughter Hall more than 
his other daughter Judith. This cannot be now 
accounted for, unlefs Judith was before provided for 
fuperior to his wifhes, or that his other daughter or 
niece had fhewed more attention to him, or that they 
had ideas more confonant to his own than Judith 
had. Perhaps fome are furprifed that his wife 
fhould only have a legacy of a bed, but we muft 



OF SHAKESPEARE. 45 

naturally fuppofe that fhe was provided for before 
either by a marriage fettlement or an eftate at 
Shottery in her own right, which either by herfelf 
alone or jointly with her husband conveyed to 
Judith in fee after her deceafe. Mrs. Shakfpeare, 
though eight years older than her husband, furvived 
him feven years, dying Aug. 6, 1623, aged fixty- 
feven years ; and her remains were interred clofe by 
thofe of her husband. 

The iff tie of the poet Shakfpeare by Anne Hathaway 
his wife. 

1. Sufannah, daughter of Mr. William Shakfpeare, 
baptized at Stratford-upon-Avon May y e 26, 1583. 
She was married at the age of twenty-four, June 
y e 25, 1607, to Dr. John Hall, an eminent phyfician 
of Stratford. He was born in 1575, and at the time 
of his marriage he was thirty-two years of age, ten 
years older than his wife. He, after the death of 
his father-in-law, refided at New Place till his death, 
which was Nov. the 25th, 1635. His wife furvived 
him near fourteen years, and died July y e 2nd, 1649, 
aged fixty-fix years. They had iffue one only 
daughter. Elizabeth, daughter of Dr. John Hall 
and Sufannah his wife, elder! daughter of Mr. 
William Shakfpeare, was baptized at Stratford-upon- 
Avon Feb. 2 1 ft, 1608, and married April y e 22nd, 



46 Jordan's memoirs 

1626, at the age of eighteen years, to Thomas Nafh, 
Efq., defcended from a family who had large poffef- 
fions in Stratford and its vicinity ; he was aged 
thirty-two at the time of his marriage. He died 
April y e 24th, 1647, aged fifty-three years. By this 
marriage there was no iffue. Mrs. Nafh furvived 
him, and was married again in 1650 to Sir John 
Barnard, of Abington near Northampton, knight, by 
whom fhe had no iffue. She feems to have bettered 
her fortune by her marriage with Mr. Nafh, for there 
is a memorandum in the old veftry-book of Stratford 
that, at a veftry held at Stratford Church for the re- 
pairs of the chancel in 1648 by a levy upon the 
eftates of the improprietors for that purpofe at is. 
in the pound, the corn tithes of Mrs. Elizabeth 
Nafh were valued at 100/. per annum, and accord- 
ingly rated at 5/. ; and again at another veftry held 
in 1650, for the fame purpofe, Lady Elizabeth Bar- 
nard's tithes of Shottery Field were valued at 120/. 
Whether fhe had any more of Mr. Nam's eftates 
fettled upon her I cannot tell. She died and was 
buried at Abington near Northampton in 1669, and 
left the capital houfe called the New Place in Strat- 
ford to be fold, and the money to be diftributed in 
legacies, as is expreffed in her will. 

2. and 3. Samuel and Judith, fon and daughter 
of Mr. William Shakfpeare by Anne his wife. They 



OF SHAKESPEARE. 47 

were twins, and baptized at Stratford-upon-Avon 
Feb. y e 2nd, 1584-5, their father not being then 
arrived at the age of twenty-one years. Samuel, the 
fon, died and was buried at Stratford Auguft y e 1 ith, 
1596, aged twelve years. Judith Shakfpeare was 
married to Mr. Thomas Queeney Feb. 10th, 1616-7, 
aged thirty-three. Mr. Thomas Queeney or Quiney 
was defcended from a good family in the parifh of 
Stratford-upon-Avon, Old Stratford and Shottery, 
where they had confiderable eftates. This Thomas, 
that married Judith Shakfpeare, is faid to have 
built a remarkable houfe at Shottery, which is ftill 
{landing. It was built very lofty and fuperb, but the 
walls thin, and was therefore confequently weak, 
from which it received the appellation of Queeney's 
Folly, which name it has retained till within thefe 
few years. The iffue of this marriage was firft, 
Shakfpeare Queeney, baptized Nov. 10, 1617, and 
buried May the 8th, 1618. Richard, fon of Mr. 
Thomas Queeney, baptized Feb. the 5th; 1617-8, 
and buried in 1628. 3. Thomas, fon of Mr. Thomas 
Queeney and Judith his wife, was baptized Jan. 
y e 23rd, 1619-20, died in 1638. So here ended the 
defcendants of the immortal Shakfpeare in that line. 
Judith their mother, if I remember right, was buried 
in 1653, but as I have loft the extract from the re- 
gifter, I cannot be certain to a year or two. There 



48 Jordan's memoirs 

is neither monument nor graveflone erected to her 
memory ; fo that I cannot tell whether fhe was 
buried near her father or not, nor neither is there 
monumental ftone or engraving of any of the name 
of Queeney either in the church chancel or church- 
yard : Mr. Queeney dying without iffue, the houfe 
at Shottery and the eftate, and another large houfe 
in the Rother Market in Stratford, devolved to a 
brother's fon, and from him to his fon, who had alfo 
two fons, the eldeft of whom was many years a 
lunatic, and died in this houfe about the year 1720, 
when the eflates came to the fon of his younger 
brother, who difpofed of them to Henry Thursby, 
Efq., of Storton near Southam in the county of 
Warwick, father of John Harvy Thursby, of Abing- 
ton near Northampton, Efq., who fold it to Samuel 
Tyler of Shottery, Efq., who, dying in 1764, devifed 
it to his two fillers, Mrs. Dorothy Tyler, a maiden 
gentlewoman, and her filler, a widow of a Mr. Nafon, 
to hold during their lives, and, after their deceafe, 
to the heirs of another fifler, who was married to one 
Vernon, an attorney-at-law at Bromfgrove, whofe 
eldeft fon went to Jamaica as a clerk, where it is 
fuppofed he died, when the reverfion came to his 
brother Thomas Vernon, who fold the reverfion 
during the lives of his aunts to Leonard Court of 
Shottery, yeoman, who let the houfe to Mr. John 



OF SHAKESPEARE. 49 

Pay ton, where he retired from the White Lion Inn 
at Stratford, who went there to refide. Leonard 
Court, dying in 1788, it came to his fon William 
Court of Shottery, who is at prefent unmarried, and 
Mr. Payton has left the houfe, and it now ftands 
void for want of a tenant. Thus having given an 
account of the eftates of the Queeneys, I fhall pro- 
ceed to give the hiftory of New Place. 

This was a large houfe fituated at the fouth end 
of the Chapel Street, and on the eaft fide thereof. 
It was built originally by Sir Hugh Clopton, knight, 
Lord Mayor of London, the xij of King Henry the 
VII, anno 1496, who built Stratford Bridge at his 
own expenfe, and was otherwife a great benefactor 
to the town of Stratford. This houfe was the ufual 
place of his refidence when he came into Warwick- 
fhire. He, dying a bachelor, bequeathed it to John 
Clopton, Efq., eldefl fon of his brother Thomas 
Clopton, Efq., who left it to his fon William Clopton, 
Efq., who purchafed the manor of Bridgetown in 
the reign of King Henry the VIII, who died in 
1 52 1, aged 37. It came to his fon William Clopton, 
Efq., who died in 1559, who had iffue William Clop- 
ton, Efq., and Rofa, a daughter, married to John 
Combe, Efq., whofe epitaph fee in the life of Shak- 
fpeare. William the fon married Anne the daughter 

H 



50 JORDAN S MEMOIRS 

of Sir George Griffith, knight, and by her had the 
following iffue. 

i. Elizabeth, died an infant. 2. Lodowick, died 
an infant. 3. Joice, a daughter, married Sir George 
Carew, knight, afterwards Baron Carew of Clopton, 
and finally Earl of Totnefs. 4. Margery, died 
young. 5. William, died young. 6. Anne, married 
to William Clopton, of Sledwick in the county of 
Durham, Efq., a relation. William Clopton, Efq., 
died in 1592, and Anne his wife in 1596. The 
Clopton eftate came to the coheirs Joyce and Anne, 
when there was a divifion made between them, and 
part of the Bridgetown eftate and this houfe at Strat- 
ford came to Anne, the wife of William Clopton, 
who fold his moiety of the eftate to John Combe, 
Efq., who was husband to his wife's aunt. And 
this houfe, then a good deal out of repair, was fold 
to Mr. William Shakfpeare, who repaired in a 
manner fuitably for his reception, and laid out the 
garden in a handfome manner, wherein, about the 
year 1609, ne planted the mulberry tree, the wood 
of which is now in fuch great eftimation. We may 
fuppofe it was planted about this time, for it is re- 
corded in Howe's Chronicle that King James I. 
granted a patent to Monfieur Francis Verton, alias 
Foreft of Verton in Picardie, Efq., for two years, to 
bring mulberry trees from France, which were fent 



OF SHAKESPEARE. 5 I 

into moft counties in England to be planted, the faid 
Verton furnifhing the north parts and William 
Wallenge the weft, fo that it may be fuppofed 
Shakfpeare had his tree from the latter. From his 
repairing this houfe he named it the New Place, 
and where he fpent the latter part of his days in eafe 
and retirement, and where he refigned his foul into 
the hands of his Creator. So careful was he, and 
defirous of having it remain in his polterity, that he 
limited to the male heirs of his daughters to the 6th 
and 7th degree, and for want of fuch iffue, then to 
the heirs male of his grand-daughter Hall, and in 
default of fuch iffue, then to the right heirs of him 
for ever. After his deceafe, Dr. Hall and his wife 
refided there till Mr. Hall's death, in Nov. 1635, 
when his fon-in-law Mr. Nam and Elizabeth his 
wife went to refide there with their mother. Mr. 
Nam dying in 1647, two years before his wife's 
mother, when Mrs. Nam continued with her mother 
till fhe died in 1649, and in the year 1650 fhe was 
married again to Sir John Barnard, who only from 
that time lived there occafionally, as appears by her 
will,* in which fhe devifed New Place to be fold, and 

* What Mr. Theobald fays in his preface concerning 
Queen Henrietta's keeping her court for three weeks at 
New Place muft be falfe. He fays that the family at the 
College not being altogether fo loyal to King Charles. 



52 JORDAN S MEMOIRS 

her couiin Edward Nafh to have the refufal or firft 
offer : he accordingly made the purchafe. He at 
that time refided at Eaft Greenwich in Kent ; but 
we may fuppofe that as he was lord of the manor of 
Loxley, where he had alfo considerable eftate, he 
fometimes refided at New Place occafionally, until 
Mary, his only daughter, was married to Sir Regi- 
nald Forfter of Eaft Greenwich in the county of 
Kent, created a baronet by King Charles II, the 
xiii of his reign, on the i ith day of July, 1661. He 
refided at New Place with his lady till their death. 
They had three children : Reginald and Mary died 

Now William Combe, Efq., who refided at the College at 
this this time, was eminent for his loyalty. He ferved the 
office of high fheriff for the county of Warwick twice ; in 
1608, and again in 1614 ; and was a member of parliament 
for the fame county in 1639. He was born Deer. 19th, 
1587, and died Jany. y e 30th, 1666, aged 80 years, 1 month, 
2 weeks, and one day, according to the inscription on his 
graveftone. He had iffue one fon and nine daughters, who 
all died young except two daughters : Mary, married to 
Thomas Wagftaff, of Tachbrook, Efq., who was a brother 
to Colonel Wm. Wagftaff, who commanded a regiment for 
King Charles, which were beat out of Stratford by the 
Lord Brooke ; and, moreover, Edward Nafh, Efqr., who 
was firft coufin to Lady Bernard's firft husband, and lord 
of the manor of Loxley, and a captain in the Parliament 
army. 



OF SHAKESPEARE. 53 

young, and Jane was married to Franklin Miller of 
Hyde Hall in the parifh of Sandon in the county of 
Herts, Efq, Having only one daughter, named 
Jane, was married to William Norcliff, of the Inner 
Temple, London, Efq. Mrs. Miller was born in 
1670, and died in 1732. She with her husband fold 
New Place to Sir Hugh Clopton, a younger fon to 
Sir John Clopton, of Clopton, knight, who pulled 
down the old houfe to the ground, and rebuilt it in 
a more modern and fuperb ftyle. The kitchen and 
other conveniences were under ground, which were 
defcended into by ftone flairs out of the ftreet de- 
fended by iron palifadoes. The hall door had a 
flight of fheps . gradually opening from the ftreet, 
over which was an iron balcony, which had a fine 
effecl. 

The top of the roof was flat, furrounded with 
wooden baluftrades, with feats for company to fit and 
regale themfelves in the fummer evenings. The mul- 
berry tree in the garden, planted by Shakefpeare, 
was grown to a very large fize, with wide fpreading 
boughs that fhaded many yards of ground, under 
which were placed benches to fit on, in the fhade, 
and which I have heard Sir Hugh Clopton took 
great delight in fhewing to the nobility and gentry 
whofe curiofity excited them to vifit the laft retire- 
ment of immortal Shakefpeare. The good old 



54 JORDAN S MEMOIRS 

knight dying in 1751, New Place* became the pro- 
perty of his two daughters as coheirs. Anne, mar- 
ried to Thomas Boothby, fon of Boothby of Tooley 
in the county of Leicefter, Efqre. ; and Elizabeth, to 

Talbot, brother to the Lord Chancellor of that 

name ; who jointly fold the eftates of their father to 
I. Gaftrell, Efqre, who came to refide at New Place, 
which lafted but a few years ; he growing tired of 
the felicitation of travellers whofe inclination led 
them to view the mulberry tree, out of regard to the 
planter, he mo ft malicioufly ordered it to be cut 
down, which order was immediately executed, and 
the body cleft for firewood, fome of which was pur- 
chafed by different people, inhabitants of Stratford, 
fome of them out of veneration to the planter, and 
fome out of curiofity ; among which number was 
George Cooper, a poor joiner of Stratford, whofe 
curiofity excited him to work what little he was able 
to purchafe into toys, fuch as tea chefts, boxes, and 
tobacco ftoppers, &c, fome of which were prettily 
carved ; but he, having a large family to fupport, 
could not purchafe but a fmall part. Therefore Mr. 
Thomas Sharp, a filverfmith of Stratford, who had 
purchafed the moil confiderable part, and finding 
Cooper's goods went off pretty well, engaged him to 
work for him, and previous to the jubilee in 1769 he 

* The length of the front was exactly 54 feet. 



OF SHAKESPEARE. 55 

employed another brother of Coopers, who was by 
trade a fhoemaker, but a very ingenious man, to 
carve toys for him, which he did in a neat manner. 
The jubilee coming on, increafed their value, and 
having a brifk trade, he advanced their price, and 
by which he has acquired a pretty good fortune, 
while the poor carvers were in the moft indigent 
circumftances ; one of them was drowned in a well 
in 1774, and the other had relief feveral years from 
the parifh of Hampton Lucy, to which he belonged, 
till his death, which was in 1784. But William 
Sharp now continues to employ his fon in the fame 
bufinefs ; he having fo great a call for thefe goods, 
excited him to purchafe all the mulberry tree he 
knew to be genuine ; there were three or four very 
large arms or boughs in the fhop of George Wills, a 
joiner of Stratford, that were faved by Mr. Gaftrell's 
order to make him an eafy chair, which were kept 
till after his death, and then fold by George Wills to 
Mr. Sharp at the enormous price of a milling a 
pound, the whole weighing 90 pounds, and he has 
bought fome at feveral other places at an advanced 
price. 

Mr. Gaftrell feemed to be a man deftined by fate 
to eraze, or at leaft flrive to do it, the memory of 
the lafh dwelling of the inimitable poet, for the lead- 
ing men and parifh officers of the corporation having 



56 Jordan's memoirs 

affeffed him, as he thought, too highly in the poor's 
rates, he determined to pull down the houfe to the 
ground, and fell the materials, which he did in 1759. 
Some of the materials were purchafed by the late 
John Venour, Efq., when he built his houfe at King's 
Mead, about 4 miles from Stratford, and fome were 
purchafed by John Hunt of Alvefton to build a fmall 
houfe for a daughter of his that was married to one 
Marfhall. Thefe affairs have been tranfacled within 
my own memory, and as I imbibed a particular ve- 
neration for the works of Shakefpeare almoft as foon 
as I learned to read, it made me more particular in 
thefe obfervations. Thus having given all the ac- 
count of this juftly much admired man I at prefent 
have been able to obtain, I fhall now proceed to de- 
fcribe his monument. 

The monument and grave of Shakefpeare are 
vifited by all travellers who have either curiofity or 
are lovers and admirers of his works, as well Britons 
as foreigners, and particularly the Irifh are extremely 
fond of beholding his features on the mimick ftone. 
In the chancel of Stratford church, againft the wall 
upon the north fide, is the monument : it is of mar- 
ble. On the extremity of the top is a human fkull 
well reprefented ; under that is the arms and creft. 
The arms or, on a bend fable a fpear of the field. 
The creft on a wreath of colours, a falcon or, with 



OF SHAKESPEARE. 57 

his wings difplayed, fupporting a fpear armed headed 
and fteeled filver, fixed upon a helmet with mantles 
and taffels. Thefe are above the arch, which is 
fupported by two Corinthian pillars of black jet or 
marble, their capitals gilt with gold. Above the ca- 
pitals are the effigies of two children ; that on the 
right hand has its eyes open, and leans on a fpade, 
as an emblem of life. The other, on the left, has its 
eyes clofed, and leans on a torch reverfed and extin- 
guifhed, as an emblem of death and mortality. Un- 
der the arch is a ftone buft down to the waift of the 
defunct ; the face painted to imitate flefh colour, ac- 
cording to the abfurd tafte that prevailed in thofe 
times ; his coat is red, with a kind of loofe gown 
without fleeves, the colour black ; in the right hand 
is a pen ; in the left a fcroll refting on a cufhion ; 
underneath is wrote in gold letters the following 
epitaphs in Latin and Englifh. 

Judicio Pylium, &c. 

Obit die Aprilis 23, 1616, set at. fuae 53. 

STAY, PASSENGER, WHY GOEST THOU BY SO FAST, &c. 

Upon the pavement, upon a plain flat ftone, is the 
following epitaph, faid to be written by himfelf. 

GOOD FREND FOR IVS SAKE FORBEARE, &c. 

On the next ftone, engraved on a brafs plate, 

1 



58 Jordan's memoirs 

Here lieth interred the body of Anne Shakefpeare, wife 
of William Shakefpeare, who departed this life the 6 day of 
Auguft, 1623, being of the age of 6j years. " Ubera tu, 
mater," &c. 

On Mr. Hall's graveftone thefe armes : Gules 
3 lions heads erazed or for Hall, empaling or, on a 
bend fable, a fpear of the field for Shakefpeare. 

Here lieth the body of John Hall, gent. He married 
Sufanna, daughter and coheir of William Shakefpeare, 
gent. He deceafed Nov. y e 25th, 1635, aged 60 years. 
" Hallius hie fitus eft," &c. 

(Hall's arms and Shakefpeare's.) 

Here lyeth the body of Sufanna, wife of John Hall, 
gent., the daughter of William Shakefpeare, gent. She 
deceafed the 2nd day of July, anno 1649, aged 66. 

There was the following epitaph, but that has 
been cut out to make room for the name of one 
Watts who lived at Ryon Clifford. " Witty above 
her fex," &c. 

On Mr. Names graveftone 2 coats quarterly and 
Shakefpeare empaling Hall quarterly. 

Here refteth the body of Thomas Nafh, Efqr. He mar- 
ried Elizabeth, the daughter of John Hall, gent. He died 
April the 4th, 1647, aged 53. 

N.B. Lady Elizabeth Barnard was buried at 



OF SHAKESPEARE. 59 

Abington near Northampton, and has (as I have 
been credibly informed) neither tomb, monument, 
nor epitaph. 

The Family of Hart 

Have been long inhabitants of Stratford. Whether 
they are any branch of the Harts of Shipfton, of 
which family is — Hart, Alderman of the City of 
London, is not known. Therefore I mall only give 
thofe that are maternally defcended from the family 
of Shakfpeare, though prior to that time there feems 
to have been three brothers in Stratford whofe 
names were John Hart, Michael Hart and William 
Hart. William Hart married Joane, daughter of 
John Shakefpeare. He was buried April y e 17, 16 16, 
and left iffue 3 fons, Thomas Hart, William Hart 
and Michael Hart, to whom their uncle the poet left 
each a legacy of 5/. Thomas Hart had iffue — 

1. Thomas Hart, baptized April y e 13th, 1634, 
and died 1680, without iffue. To him Lady Ber- 
nard left the two houfes in the Henley Street, and 
his heirs ; and in default thereof to 

2. George Hart, born 1636. He was by trade a 
taylor, and at the age of 21 he married Either, 
daughter of Thomas Ludiate of Stratford, as appears 
by the following entry in the regifter, " George 
Hart, fon of Thomas Hart, and Either Ludiate, 



60 Jordan's memoirs 

daughter of Thomas Ludiate, of the fame towne and 
county, were publifhed of an intent of marriage upon 
3 feveral market days in the market place at Alcefter 
upon the i ft, 8th and 15th of December 1657, and 
being no exception againft them were, upon the 9th 
of January 1657-8, joined together in marriage by 
Francis Smith, juftice of the peace in the burrough 
of Stratford." He had two fillers, but what became 
of them is unknown. The iffue by this marriage 
was — 

1. Elizabeth, baptized Jan. y e 9th, 1658, and 
married 061. 12, 1697 to Stephen Spencer, a forge- 
man in the parifh of Tarbick, whofe defcendants are 
many of them ftill living. 

2. Jane, baptized Dec. y e 21, 1661. She was 
married to one — Hiron, a taylor at Clifford 
Chambers, in the county of Gloucefter, by whom 
fhe had iffue George Hiron, who was alfo a taylor, 
and a daughter named Either, married to John 
Stone, a Hone mafon of Northneld in the county of 
Worcefter, as appears by a deed of marriage fettle- 
ment now in the hands of Thomas Hart, which 
fecured to her and her heirs an efhate with a ftone 
quarry at Northfield, two houfes in Bromfgrove and 
an efhate at Kings Norton. She left as iffue, 2 
fons, the eldeft of whom fold the eftates ; he left a 
fon named John, who is now living, and by trade a 



OF SHAKESPEARE. 6 I 

whitefmith, and refides near All Saints Church, in 
the city of Oxford. The iffue of the other fon is 
alfo a fon, and lives at Redditch in the county of 
Worcefter, and I believe they have both children. 

George Hiron had two fons, and both taylors at 
Clifford, i. George Hiron, now living, who has 
alfo a fon living, married and has got children. 2. 
Phillip Hiron died in 1788, and had befide other 
children a daughter married to Thomas Adkins of 
Swafford ; and they have 3 children living at this 
time. 

3. Shakefpeare, eldeft fon of George Hart by 
Efther his wife, was baptized 1666. At the age of 
28, in 1694, y e ioth of April, he was married to 
Anne Prue. He was by trade a plumber and 
glazier, and had fome real eftate as came to him as 
heir-at-law, the houfes in the Henley Street where 
the poet was born, with fome land in the field and a 
houfe in the Bridge Street, which I fuppofe was the 
copyhold held of the manor of Rowington, and 
which the poet left to his fifter Joane for her life, and 
two houfes and a piece of ground in the village of 
Old Stratford, which is now Mr. Keating' s garden. 
In the early part of his life he feems to have been a 
perfon of confiderable property, and in good bufmefs, 
as I have feen many of his bills for the repairs of 
Stratford and other churches ; befides, he was em- 



62 Jordan's memoirs 

ployed by the beft families in the neighbourhood of 
Stratford. In the year 1720 he ferved the office of 
churchwarden for the borough. He was efteemed 
as an honeft indunxious man; but he was unfortunate 
in trade, for inflead of increafmg he rather dimin- 
ifhed his fortune, and what is fomewhat fmgular, it 
was by a lofs he fuftained by the Lucy family. 
There was at that time a Mrs. Lucy, a widow, who 
was but a very indifferent economift, and had lived 
beyond her income. She had employed him till his 
bill amounted to 150/., and dying foon after con- 
fiderably in debt, this money was never paid to this 
day, which hurt the old man fo, that he was obliged 
to fell part of his real eftate and mortgage the other. 
He fold the houfe in the Bridge Street to one 
Richard Street, a wheelwright, who was fucceeded 
by one John Jarrett (Jurrett ?), from whom it came 
to his fon John Jarrett, organift of Banbury, who 
fold the premifes to his mother's brother, Edward 
Stanley of Alvefton, who devifed it to his fecond fon, 
John Stanley, who is the prefent owner, and the 
houfe is now inhabited by Mr. John Edwards, a 
cooper. The houfes in Old Stratford, and the land 
in the field, were mortgaged to Mr. Bartlett Mafon, 
an attorney of Stratford; and as they were never re- 
deemed, on the death of Mr. Mafon without iffue 
they became the property of his grace the Duke of 



OF SHAKESPEARE. 6 



Dorfet as lord of the manor, who about 30 years 
ago, granted them to Mr. James Keatinge, a native 
of Dublin, who is an eminent printer and bookfeller 
in Stratford, who pulled down the houfes, and laid 
the ground out into a handfome garden, which is 
bordered by the river Avon, and is a delightful 
fpot. The land in the field is now one enclofed 
ground, the eaft fide is bounded by the Avon, and 
the north by the turnpike road from Stratford to 
Warwick. The two houfes in the Henley Street 
were mortgaged to Mary Smith of Stratford, widow 
of Samuel Smith, gent., for 150/., who, dying in 
1755, her grandfon Samuel Smith, gent., then a 
minor, became heir-at-law, and her executor, whofe 
guardian was Sarah Taylor, his own aunt, who gave 
a bond of indemnification of 300/. to Thomas Hart 
of Stratford, and Benjamin Smith of the parifh of 
Hampton Lucy, to releafe the premifes to Thomas 
Hart, who paid off the mortgage and redeemed the 
premifes in 1757. 

Iffue of Shakefpeare Hart by Anne Prue his wife. 

1. William Shakefpeare, fon of Shakefpeare Hart, 
was baptized Sept. y e 20, 1695. 

2. Anne, daughter of Shakefpeare Hart, was bap- 
tized Aug. y e 9th, 1700. Buried March y e 27, 
1738, aged 38. She was never married. 



64 Jordan's memoirs 

3. Catherine, daughter of Shakefpeare Hart, bap- 
tized July 19, 1703. She was never married. 

4. Thomas, the fon of Shakfpeare Hart, baptized 
June 13th, 171 1 — was buried March y e 6, 1746. 
He never married. 

5. Thomas, fon of George Hart by Efther his 
wife, was buried Dec. 29, 1690. He never married. 

6. George Hart, fon of George Hart by Efther 
Ludiate, was born in 1676, when his father was 40 
years old, from whom the prefent family are de- 
fcended. Efther, the wife of George Hart, died 
April y e 29, 1696, and George Hart Taylor, her 
husband, was buried May the 3rd, 1702, aged 66. 

IJfue of William Shakefpeare Hart. He married 
Anne Southam. 

1. Shakfpeare Hart, baptized Jan. y e 6th, 1744, 
and was buried March y e 27, 1749. 

2. Catherine, baptized May y e 29th, 1746, died 
an infant. 

3. Catherine Hart, daughter of William Shak- 
fpeare Hart and Anne his wife, was baptized May 
20, 1748. She is now living in Birmingham in a 
very indigent ftate. She is married. 

William Shakfpeare Hart was buried Feb. y e 28th, 
1749-50. 

Anne Hart, his wife, was buried Feb. y e 5th, 1760. 



OF SHAKESPEARE. 65 

Shakfpeare Hart fenior was buried July y e 7th, 
1747. 

There is no graveftone erected to his memory, nor 
do I know whether he died inteftate or not. Anne> 
his wife, was buried July 10, 1753. She made her will, 
and bequeathed her intereft in the two houfes in 
Henley Street, with all her perfonal effects, to 
Thomas Hart, fon of George Hart, her husband's 
nephew, although her granddaughter, Catherine, the 
daughter of her fon William Shakefpeare Hart, was 
then and is living. This will was dated the 6th day 
of June, 1753, and proved the 24th of April, 1754. 
Witneffes : John Court, William Elderton, and 
Peter Stratherne. 

George Hart, 5th fon of George Hart, Taylor, 
and Efther Ludiate his wife, was born in 1676. He 
was by trade a turner, and married Mary, daughter 

of Richardfon of Stratford. She was buried 

Octr. y e 7th, 1705. He furvived her 40 years, and 
was buried July y e 29, 1745, aged 69. Her iffue 
were : 1. Thomas Hart; he was a blackfmith, and 
died at Leek Wootton near Warwick, unmarried, in 
1740. 

2. George Hart, baptized Nov. 29, 1700; died 
1776. 

3. Hefcer, daughter of George Hart and Mary 
his wife, was baptized February y e 10th, 1702. 

K 



66 Jordan's memoirs 

4. Mary, daughter of George Hart, was baptized 
Oct. y e 7th, 1705, the fame day her mother was 
buried, which fhews fhe died in childbed. She was 
married to John Sawyer, a dancing mafter, of Sutton 
Coldfield ; whether they ever had any children or 
not, I never heard. 

George Hart, 2nd fon of George Hart and Mary 
Richardfon his wife, was married Feb. y e 20, 1728, 
to Sarah Mumford. He was by trade a turner, but 
in the latter part of his life he left off his trade, and 
dealt in pigs, and kept horfes to let to hire, and by 
which he gained a fubfiftence, but was reduced to a 
very indigent ftate before his death. His wife died 
in 1754 — by her he had iffue, 

1. Thomas Hart, baptized May y e 9th, 1729 ; now 
living, Jan. y e 18, 1790. 

2. George, fon of George Hart, 1 73 1. He was 
many years a chairman in London. Whether he 
was ever married or not, I cannot tell. He has been 
dead fome years. 

3. Mary, daughter of George Hart, baptized Jan. 
y e 13th, 1738. She married William Smith, oftler 
at the White Lion Inn, in Stratford, whom fhe fur- 
vived. She died in 1 78 1, and left 5 fons and one 
daughter, who are all of them now living. 1. John 
Smith, a furgeon, ferved his apprenticefhip with 
Mr. Jones of Bewdley. 2. William Smith, a wool- 



OF SHAKESPEARE. 6 J 

comber ; he is a fergeant in the Glocefterfhire mi- 
litia. 3. Jofeph Smith, yeoman, lives in the parifh 
of Alvechurch. 4. Thomas Smith ; he is a brick- 
layer in Stratford. 5. George Smith ; he is an 
oftler in an inn at Stratford.. Mary, the daughter, is 
married, and lives at Tamworth. 

4. Anne, daughter of George Hart, baptized Sept. 
y e 25th, 1740, who is now living in London; and, I 
believe, is married to her third husband, but has no 
children. 

5. Frances, daughter of George Hart, baptized 
Jan. y e 25th, 1744. She was married in 1787 to 
William Skinner, a blackfmith of Shottery in the 
parifh of Old Stratford, and has no iffue. 

6. Jemima, daughter of George Hart, baptized 
June 19th, 1745. She died young. 

7. William, fon of George Hart, baptized Nov. y e 
27th, 1748. He was killed by a horfe when a 
boy. 

Thomas Hart was married to Alice, daughter of 
Stephen Rickets, a labourer of Stratford in 1752. 
He was brought up to his father's bufmefs, a turner, 
and married at the age of 23, in the year 1753. He 
came into poffeffion of the premiffes where his im- 
mortal relation was born, which he repaired, and 
went and refided at the Swan and Maidenhead Inn 
himfelf, which inn he kept fome time ; but the pub- 



68 Jordan's memoirs 

lick bufinefs not anfwering the expectation, he de- 
clined it, and went to refide in another part of the 
premiffes where his great uncle Shakefpeare Hart 
had refided, and where it is faid the poet Shakefpeare 
was born ; where he ftill continues to refide, and is 
in the 6 1 year of his age, and he carries on the turn- 
ing bufinefs by keeping a journeyman, but his prin- 
cipal profeffion is dealing in pigs. He fome years 
fmce fold part of the premiffes to Mr. Payton, who 
appropriated part of the ground to the White Lion 
Inn to which it adjoins, and the buildings are divided 
into fmall tenements, which are let to different peo- 
ple. He is in perfon rather corpulent, and is fubjecT: 
to the gout ; but in other refpects healthy, with a 
ftrong conftitution. His mental faculties are not 
adorned with ideas fufficient to make his company or 
converfation agreeable or defired by thofe who are 
happily poffeffed with fuperior talents and more re- 
fined fentiments. So carelefs and ignorant is he of 
his kindred to the immortal Shakfpeare, that he does 
not know in what degree he is related to him. 

Iffue of Thomas Hart and A lice his wife, daughter 
of Stephen Rickets. 

i. Sarah, daughter of Thos. Hart, baptized Oclr. 
y e 8th, 1753. She went to London, and was married 



OF SHAKESPEARE. 69 

to one Jofeph Marl, a taylor, and native of the 
Ifland of Jerfey, who had been a lieutenant of ma- 
rines. She died in 1779, without iffue. 

2. John, fon of Thomas Hart and Alice his wife, 
was baptized Auguft the 18th, 1755. He, in the year 
1770, went a voyage to China with an uncle, who 
was husband to his aunt Anne, and an officer of an 
Indiaman. But John Hart, not liking a feafaring 
life, he never faild another voyage, but went to im- 
prove himfelf in the turning bufmefs at Tewksbury, 
where he married his matter's daughter, named 
Richardfon ; after which he fet up in trade for him- 
felf, but was obliged to decline, and went to London, 
where he was foreman of a fhop, till his father-in-law 
dying in 1789, about Michaelmas, he returned to 
Tewksbury, where, I believe, he ftill continues. He 
has by his wife three children, one of whom is named 
Shakfpeare. 

3. Mary, daughter of Thomas Hart, was married 
to a private foldier in the 6th regiment of foot, and 
fhe is dead without iffue. 

4. Frances, daughter of Thomas Hart, baptized 
Augt. 8, 1760. She died young. 

5. Thomas, fon of Thomas Hart, baptized Augt. 
10, 1764. He is now living and married, and is a 
butcher in Alcefter. 



70 JORDAN S MEMOIRS. 

6. Nanny, daughter of Thomas Hart, was bap- 
tized Jany. y e 16, 1767. 

7. Jane, daughter of Thomas Hart ; fhe is now 
in fervice at the fign of the Unicorn Inn, Strat- 
ford. 



APPENDIX 



TT^HE following is a true and perfect copy of a fpiritual 
-*- will, teftament, proteftation, profeffion, and confeffion 
of faith, of John Shakefpeare, found under the tiling in the 
houfe where he refided and where his children were born, 
on the 29th day of April, 1757, by Jofeph Molly, a brick- 
layer of Stratford, who was then repairing the houfe for 
Thomas Hart. 

I. 

In the name of God the Father, Sonne, and Holy Ghoft, 
the moft holy and bleffed Virgin Mary, mother of God, the 
holy hoft of archangels, angels, patriarchs, prophets, evan- 
gelifts, apoftles, faints, martyrs, and all the cceleftial court 
and company of Heaven, Amen. I, John Shakefpere, an 
unworthy member of the holy Catholick religion, being at 
this my prefent writing in perfect health of body and 
found mind, memory and underftanding ; but calling to 
mind the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death, and 
that I may be poffibly cut off in the bloffome of my fins, 
and called to render an account of all my tranfgreffions ex- 
ternally and internally, and that I may be unprepared for 
the dreadful trial, either by facrament, pennance, fafting, 
or prayer, or any other purgation. Whatever do in the 
holy prefence above fpecified, of my own free and volun- 
tary accord, make and ordaine this my laft fpiritual will, 



72 APPENDIX. 

teftament, confeffion, proteftation, and profeffion of faith ; 
hoping hereby to receive pardon for all my finnes and 
offences ; and thereby to be made partaker of life ever- 
lafting, through the only merits of Jefus Chrift my Saviour 
and Redeemer, who took upon himfelf the likenefs of man, 
fuffered death and was crucified upon the crofs for the re- 
demption of finners. 

II. 

Item, I, John Shakefpere, do by this prefent freely 

acknowledge and confefs that in my pafb life I have been a 
moft abominable and grievous finner, and therefore un- 
worthy to be forgiven without a true and fincere repentance 
for the fame. But trufting in the manifold mercies of my 
bleffed Saviour and Redeemer, I am encouraged by relying 
on his facred word to hope for falvation, and be made a 
partaker of his heavenly kingdom, as a member of the 
cceleftial company of angels, faints, and martyrs, there to 
refide for ever and ever in the court of my God. 

III. 

Item, I, John Shakefpere, doe by this prefent proteft, 
declare that I am certain I muft paffe out of this tranfitory 
life into another that will to eternity, I do hereby moft 
humbly implore and intreat my good and guardian angel 
to inftru6l me in this my folemn preparation, proteftation, 
and confeffion of faith, at leaft fpiritually, in will adoring 
and moft humbly befeeching my Saviour that he will be 
pleafed to affift me in fo dangerous a voyage, to defend me 
from the fnares and deceites of my infernall enemies, and 
to conduci me to the fecure haven of his eternall bliffe. 



APPENDIX. 73 



IV. 



Item, I, John Shakefpere, doe proteft that I will alfo 
paffe out of this life armed with the laft facrament of ex- 
treme unction : the which, if through any let or hinderance 
I mould not be able* to have, I doe now alfo for that time 
demand and crave the fame, befeeching his Divine Majefty 
that he will be pleafed to anoint my fenfes both internall 
and externall with the facred oyle of his infinite mercy, and 
to pardon me all my fins,f by feeing, fpeaking, feeling, J 
fmelling, hearing, touching, or by any other way whatfoever. 

V. 

Item, I, John Shakefpere, doe by this my§ prefent proteft, 
that I will || not through any temptation whatfoever defpair 
of the divine goodnefs for the multitude and greatneffe of 
my finnes, for which although I confeffe that I have de- 
ferred hell, yet will I ftedfaftly hope in God's infinite mercy, 
knowinge that he hathe heretofore pardoned as many and 
as greate finners as myfelf, whereof I have good warrant, 
dealed with his ^[ mouth in Holy Writ, whereby he pro- 
nounceth that he is not come to call the juft but finners, 

VI. 

Item, I, John Shakefpere, doe proteft that I doe not 
know that I have ever done any good worke meritorious of 

* Another copy introduces the word " then" here, 
f The fame introduces " committed" here. 
% Ditto "feeling," inftead of " jufting. 
§ " My" omitted in the other copy. 
|| " Never," inftead of "not," in other copy. 
1" " Sacred" introduced here. 
L 



74 APPENDIX. 

life everlafting, and if I have done any I do acknowledge 
that I have done it with a great e deale of negligence and 
imperfection ; neither ihoiild I have been able to have done 
the leaft without the afliftance of his divine grace. Where- 
fore let the divell remain confounded ; for I doe in no wife 
prefume to merit heaven by fuch good workes alone, but 
through the merits and bloud of my Lord and Saviour 
Jefus fhed upon the Croffe for me moft miferable fmner. 

VII. 

Item, I, John Shakefpere, do protefh by this prefent 
writing, that I will patiently endure and fufifer all kind of 
infirmity, ficknefs, yea, and the paine of death itfelf, where 
in if it mould happen [which God forbid] that through 
violence of pain, agony, or by fubtilety of the devill, I 
mould fall into any impatience or temptation of blafphemy 
or murmuration againft God or Catholick faith, or give any 
figne of bad example, I doe henceforth and for the prefent 
repent me, and am moft heartily forry for the fame, and I 
doe renounce all the evill whatfoever* I might have then 
done or faid, befeeching his divine clemency that he will 
not forfake me in that grievous and painfull agony. 

VIII. 

Item, I, John Shakefpeare, by virtue of this prefent tefta- 
ment, I doe pardon all the injuries and offences that any 
one hath ever done unto me, either in myf reputation, 
goods, J or any other way whatfoever, befeeching fweet 
Jefus to pardon them for the fame, and I doe defire that 

* " Which" in another copy. f " My" omitted in ditto. 

t " life" occurs here in ditto. 



APPENDIX. 75 

they will doe the fame* by me whom I have offended or 
injured in any fort howfoever. 

IX. 

Item, I, John Shakefpere, doe heere proteft that I doe 
render infinite thanks to his Divine Majefty, for all the be- 
nefitts that I have received, as well fecret as manifeft, and 
in particular for the benefitt of my creation, redemption, 
fanclification, confervation and vocation to the holy know- 
ledge of him and his true Catholicke faith, but above all 
for his foe great expectations of me to penance, where he 
might moft juftly have taken me out of this life when I 
leaft thought of it, yea even then when I was plunged in 
the dirtyf puddle of my finnes. Bleffed be therefore and 
praifed for ever his infinite patience and charity. 

x. 

Item, I, John Shakefpere, doe proteft that I am willing, 
yea I doe infinitely defire and humbly crave, that of this 
my laft will and teftament the glorious and ever bleffed 
Virgin Mary, mother of God, refuge and advocate of fin- 
ners (whom I honour fpecially above all other faints) may 
be the chief executreffe, together with thefe other faints and 
patrons (Saint Winifrida) all whom I invoke and befeech 
to be prefent at the hour of my death, that fhe and they 
may comfort me with their defired prefence, and crave 
fweet Jefus that he will receive my foul into peace. 

XL 
Item, in virtue of this prefent writing, I, John Shake- 

* Occurs in another copy for " fame/' " like." 
f " Durty" in another copy. 



J6 APPENDIX. 

fpere, doe likewife moft willingly and with all humility con- 
ftitute and ordaine my good angell for defender and pro- 
tector of my foul in the dreadfull day of judgement, when 
the final} fentence of eternal life and death fhall be dif- 
cuffed and given, befeeching him that as my foule was ap- 
pointed to his cuftody and protection when I lived, even 
foe he will vouchfafe to defend the fame in that hour, and 
conduct it to eternall bliffe. 

XII. 
Item, I, John Shakefpere, doe in like manner praye and 
befeech all my dear friends, parents and kinsfolkes, by the 
bowels of our Saviour Jefus Chrift, that, fince it is uncertain 
what lot will befall me, for fear notwithftanding leaft by 
reafon of my fmnes I be to paffe and ftay a long while in 
purgatory, they will vouchfafe to affift and favour* me 
with their holy prayers and fatisfactory workes, efpecially 
with the holy facrifice of the maffe, as being the moft 
effectuall meanes to deliver fouls from their torments and 
paines, from the which, if I fhall by Gods gracious good- 
nefs and bye their vertuous workes be delivered, I doe 
promife that I will not be ungratefull for fo great a benefitt. 

XIII. 

Item, I, John Shakefpere, doe, by this my lafh will and 
teftament, bequeath my foule, as foone as it fhall be de- 
livered and loofened from the prifon of this my body, to be 
entombed in the fweet and amorous coffin of the fide of 
Jefus Chrift, and that in this lyfe havingef fepulchre is my 

* " Succour," inftead of " favour," in another copy. 
f " Giving," inftead of " having," in another copy. 



APPENDIX. J? 

reft, and live perpetually inclofed in that eternal habita- 
tion of repofe, there to bleffe for ever and ever that direfull 
iron of the launce, which like a "Jliarp cutting* razor 
formed" fo fweet and pleafant a monument within the 
facred breaft of my Lord and Saviour. 

XIV. 

Item, laftly, I, John Shakefpere, doe proteft that I will 
willingly accept of death in what manner foever it may 
befall me, confirmingt my will unto the will of God ; 
accepting of the fame in fatisfa<5tion of my finnes, and 
giving thanks unto his divine Majefty for the like J he 
hath beftowed upon, and if it pleafe him to prolong or 
fhorten the fame, bleffed be he alfoe a thoufand, thoufand 
times ; into whofe moft holy handes I commend my foule 
and bodye, my life and death, and befeech him above all 
things that he never permitt any change to be made by 
me, John Shakefpeare, of this my laft§ will and teftament.|| 

I, John Shakefpere, have made this prefent writing of 
proteftation, confeffion and charter in prefence of the bleffed 
Virgin Mary, my angel guardian and all the celeftial court 
as witneffes hereunto, the which my meaninge is that it be 
of full value now prefently and for ever with the force and 
virtue of teftament, codicill and donation in caufe^[ of death, 
confirminge it a new beinge in perfect health of foul and 
bodye, and figned with my** owne hand, carryinge alfo the 

* " Charge in a canfore formes" in another copy. 

f " Conforming," inftead of " confirming." % " Life," inftead of " like." 

§ " Aforefaid," inftead of laft." || Add "Amen." 

% " Courfe," inftead of " caufe." ** " Mine," inftead of "my." 



78 APPENDIX. 

fame about me ; and for the better declaration thereof, my 
will and intention is that it be finally buried with me after 
my death. Pater nofter, Ave Maria, credo Jefu [line ends] 
fon of David have mercy on me Amen. [2nd line ends] 

( Shakefpeare s Will follows here). 

N.B. An inventory of the poet's effects might be pleafing, 
which perhaps might be found in the Prerogative Court, 
where the will is depofited. 

The court copy, from which the above will is extracted, 
is wrote in a very old hand, and feems to have been pro- 
cured foon after his death, and probably by one of his 
nephews, as it was put into the hands of Mary Smith by 
Shakefpeare Hart at the time he mortgaged the premiffes 
to her, by which means it came into my poffeffion, my wife 
being grand-daughter to the faid Mary Smith. The court 
copy of Lady Barnard's will is wrote in a more modern 
hand, and was certainly obtained many years after that of 
her grandfather ; though by the writing it mufh have been 
foon after her death; and I have been told by Thomas Hart 
his great grandfather George attempted to recover New 
Place by virtue of his great uncle's, the poet's, will. 

Probatum fuit tefhamentum fuprafcriptum apud aedes 
Exonienfes fcituat' in le Strand in comitatu Middx. quarto 
die menfis Martii anno millimo fexcenteffimo novo Domni 
juxta eos coram venerabili viro domino Egidio fuerit militi 
et legam doctore. Surro to Venelis et Egidii dum Sedlim 
Jenkins militis etiam legum do6lore & curiae prerogative 
Cant, magiftri cufhodis five commiffarii Itand conftitute 
juramento Edwardi Bayley, executorum 



APPENDIX. 79 

teftamento cur' comiffa creditor difun6li 

die 

The reft of this probate is fo torn that it is impoffible to 
read it 



There was a family of the name of Shakefpeare lived in 
the parifh of Hampton Lucy, as appears by the regifters of 
Stratford and Hampton. 

Elizabeth, daughter of Anthony Shakefpeare of Hamp- 
ton, was baptized at Stratford-upon-Avon Feb. y e ioth, 

1583- 

From the Hampton Regifter 1583. 

June the 4th was baptized Lettyce, daughter of Henry 
Shakefpeare of Ingeon. 

1585. James, fon of Henry Shakefpeare of Ingeon. 

1589. James, fon of Henry Shakefpeare, was buried. 

From this it may be gueffed that Henry and Anthony 
were brothers, and refided on two of the farms at Ingeon, 
in the parifh of Hampton Lucy : there are 4 farms of that 
name adjoining to each other; one was Sir Hugh Clopton's, 
and was fold to Mr. Gafbrell with New Place, and in 1788 
was purchafed by Charles Henry Hunt of Stratford, Efq., 
Clerk of the Peace for the county of Warwick. 

The next is a farm belonging to Mr. Thomas Farren, 
who occupies it himfelf. 

The next formerly belonged to the family of Cookfey, 
from whom it came to Mr. Woolmer, many years town- 
clerk of Stratford, who left it to an only daughter, Catharine, 
who was married to William Makepeace, Efq., counfellor- 
at-law, and dying without iffue, the eftate came to the Rev. 



80 APPENDIX. 

Henry Wigley, Efq., of Spendfham in the county of Wor- 
cefter, father of Edmund Wigley, Efq., M.P. for the city of 
Worcefter. 

The fourth eftate at Ingeon belongs to one Richard 
Hazlewood, and there is a large clofe of meadow ground 
which was purchafed by Mary Smith of Stratford (called 
Shakefpeare's Clofe), who was grandmother to my wife, 
from whom it defcended to Samuel Smith, her heir, who 
now enjoys it. 

Statues, bufts, and paintings of Shakefpeare in Stratford 
and its vicinity. 

1. A ftone buft to the waift. See defcription of his mo- 
nument in the church. 

2. A portrait painting, down to the waift, over the gate- 
way at the White Lion Inn, with the following lines. 

Here fweeteft Shakefpeare, Fancy's child, 
Warbled his native wood notes wild. 

3. A fine whole length ftatue of lead, by Kent, in a niche 
at the north end of the Town-hall, facing the High Street. 
It gives the bard in a graceful and eafy attitude, leaning on 
fome books upon a pillar, and pointing to a fcroll on which 
are the following lines, taken from the Midfnmmer Night's 
Dream. 

The poet's eye, &c. 

And a name. 
On the bafe, 

" Take him, &c. 

again." 



APPENDIX. 8 1 

4. A fine painting within fide the hall, by Wilfon, of the 
whole length of the bard, feated in a ftudious poffcure with 
a pen in his hand ; the drapery is very fine, and the coun- 
tenance fo expreffive, it is beyond the power of any writer 
to defcribe, unlefs he could catch thofe fparks of infpiration 
that illuminated " the mufe of fire," that warmed the bound- 
lefs genius of immortall Shakefpeare. 

There is a very good copy of this picture in miniature, 
painted by Mr. Edward Grubb, a very ingenious artift of 
Stratford, in the poffeffion of Mr. Thomas Taylor, auc- 
tioneer. 

4. The fign of Shakfpeare's Head at the inn which bears 
his name in Stratford, painted by Mr. Grubb, taken from 
the engraving in Hemminge and Condell's edition of his 
works, in the poffeffion of the Rev. Jofeph Greene,* A.M., 
rector of Welford in Gloucefterfhire, near Stratford, with 
thefe lines : — 

Done from an ancient print 
Wherein the graver had a ftrife 
With Nature to out -do the life. 

Ben Jonson. 

5. A fine miniature painting of his monument in the 
church, by Mrs. Grubb, in the poffeffion of the Rev. Mr. 
Greene of Welford. 

6. A painting in crayons, by Mr. Grubb, copied from the 
engraving in Hemming and Condell's edition, in the pof- 
feffion of the Rev. Mr. Wigley of Stendfham. 

* Mr. Greene has alfo a likenefs of the buft taken off by himfelf with 
plaifter of Paris. 

M 



APPENDIX. 83 



Paffage omitted after the account of the anecdotes of 
the Combes. 

A man of fo much pleafantry and fuch great good nature 
and benevolence as Shakefpeare was, certainly much de- 
parted from his general character in thefe two inftances, by 
making the Combes the fubject of a cruel mirth, when en- 
compaffed with their friends and neighbours, who met, we 
may fuppofe, only to promote cheerfulnefs and good hu- 
mour. The fo long remembering Sir Thomas Lucy's ani- 
mofity againft him when an extravagant young man, is 
alfo another circumftance that mows the poet was fome- 
times alive to refentment ; this was ihewed indeed only in 
words, but they were moft fharp biting ones. It (hews, by 
the poet's retiring from the bufy fcene of London, where he 
might have accumulated a much larger fortune, that he 
loved the pleafures of rural life beyond all the luxuries of 
the metropolis, and that a moderate fortune fufhcient to 
fupport him as a gentleman was the utmoft of his wifh. 
His conduct may be juftly likened to the old Romans, for 
after having ferved the public for many years, and acquired 
both to himfelf and his nation immortal fame, he retired 
with his laurels ftill growing to his native plains, and culti- 
vated that land whofe produce had fupported him from his 
infancy to manhood. Yes, he who was the admiration of 
majefty and the companion of peers, became the occupier 
of a farm, which he f from his own unbounded genius had 



84 APPENDIX. 

acquired : from this he no doubt received the moft rational 
of pleafures ; this happy retirement did not continue many 
years before he fell into a decline, when he made his will, 
and probably fitted himfelf every other way for that change 
that mortality muft once make, which happened to him 
April y e 23rd, 1616. 



THE END. 



T. RICHARDS, 37, GREAT QUEEN STREET. 



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